Niagara connection to Project Yellowbird

Two of the nine charged in the “Yellowbird” sting have connections to Niagara Falls. They’re a common-law couple. The husband has a lengthy car theft criminal record — and a few years ago narrowly avoided being deported back to Poland.

The Niagara couple arrested in this sophisticated theft ring are 46-year old Machai Neizurawski and his 36-year old common-law wife Milena Zelenovich. Niezurawski came here from Poland in the late 90’s and has a long criminal record for car theft.

He moved to Niagara Falls from Toronto in 2004 — and was ordered deported in 2005 because of break and enter convictions.

The deportation documents say Niezurawski would break into people’s homes to steal the keys for expensive cars and then sell the cars for a few thousand dollars.

Often the car theft victims would be home.

Despite his slew of criminal convictions including one after he was ordered deported, the hearing panel stayed Niezurawski’s deportation because it believed he was truly
remorseful and wasn’t a threat to re-offend.”

That stay was for four years, as long as Niezurawski stayed out of trouble. He told officials that he’d been stealing cars because he and his wife had declared personal bankruptcy. He was broke and needed the money in part to pay his legal fees. That was in 2007.

This week Toronto police charged Niezurawski, Zelenovich and seven others with committing the same kind of crimes.

Dave Zajak, Toronto police: “They would throw bricks through windows, gain entry into the homes and steal the fobs and whatever other items they could steal.”

Niezurawski told deportation officials he tried, but couldn’t get a job in Niagara Falls because of his criminal record. He and his wife have a young child together..