Drug dealer Javian Neesmith, 22, of Palm Coast was sentenced to 15 years in state prison on March 1, 2022 after pleading no contest to a reduced charge of Manslaughter. Neesmith was originally charged with 1st Degree Murder for the sale of drugs that led to the overdose death of Dimitry Popkov in September 2020. Neesmith also pled no contest to Possession of a Schedule 4 Substance, Driving While License Suspended, Possession of a Schedule 2 Substance with Intent to Sell, and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device and received concurrent 4-year sentences on each additional charge.
The FCSO Special Investigations Unit (SIU) conducted an undercover operation in September of 2020 following the death of Poplov. Utilzing investigative techniques, detectives were able to confirm Neesmith was linked to the drugs supplied to the victim that ultimately caused his death.
“I want to thank the Grand Jury, State Attorney Larizza, and all the detectives for their excellent work in obtaining this arrest and conviction,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “The poison sold to the victim by Neesmith took his life. Let this be a reminder to drug dealers to keep your poison out of Flagler County and know that we investigate every overdose death as a murder! Kill someone selling your poison and you will join him and other poison peddler killers in prison for a very long time.”
Neesmith was initially arrested by the FCSO Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and Major Case Detectives during an undercover operation and has been in custody since the arrest in September 2020. On January 20, 2021, he was arrested for the additional charge of 1st degree Murder by Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance. He is being held at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility under no bond until his transfer to the Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) to start his prison sentence.
Melissa Morreale, Public Affairs Officer
Organizational Services Division
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office
