Family calls for ‘Death by Dealer’ charges in fatal Nassau overdose case

Dozens of family and friends gathered outside the Nassau Courthouse on Friday to demand justice for Nicolas Rakamaric – an 18-year-old who died in December from a fatal drug overdose.

News 12 Staff

Feb 28, 2020, 7:24 PM

Updated 1,744 days ago

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Dozens of family and friends gathered outside the Nassau Courthouse on Friday to demand justice for Nicolas Rakamaric – an 18-year-old who died in December from a drug overdose.
Denise Rakamaric says her son was sold a lethal dose of fentanyl by Damiean Johnson, of Queens, who was charged with criminal possession and sale of a controlled substance.
Johnson, who is not in jail, made a court appearance in Mineola.
Rakamaric’s family is calling on lawmakers to pass a “Death by Dealer” law, which would charge the dealer with homicide in fatal opiate-based overdoses.
“There are kids that are dying every seven to 14 minutes due to fentanyl in our country, and these criminals are being released the same day,” says Denise Rakamaric, who is calling for Johnson to be charged with murder.
Johnson’s attorney Donald Rollock disagrees.
“Trust me, I don't agree with people selling drugs…but it doesn't mean you killed a person. Under the law, there's a specific definition of what murder is,” he says.