Convicted killer directed sale of 165 pounds of meth from inside Alabama prison

A federal jury in Birmingham has convicted 43-year-old Samdrekus Eugene Bester of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The conviction comes after a four-day trial, revealing that Bester operated a major drug trafficking ring from behind bars.

Drug Trafficking from Behind Bars

Despite already serving a life sentence for the 2016 murder of 28-year-old Caudereo Tyrell Roseman—a crime that occurred on May 13, 2016, in the 1700 block of Alameda Court—Bester utilized a contraband cell phone to manage criminal activity. Evidence presented at trial shows that between December 2022 and January 2023, Bester coordinated the distribution of 165 pounds of methamphetamine across the greater Birmingham metro area.

Bester reportedly relied on women on the outside to facilitate the movement of these narcotics. Law enforcement, led by the DEA, recovered more than 10 pounds of meth during the investigation, with an additional 20 pounds seized from the home of a co-defendant.

Law Enforcement Response

Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Phillip Williams Jr. emphasized the severity of the case, stating, "Despite being imprisoned for murder, the defendant continued to endanger our communities through drug trafficking. This guilty verdict sends a clear message that criminal activity will not be tolerated behind prison walls or anywhere else."

DEA Special Agent in Charge John P. Scott echoed these sentiments, noting that even from a prison cell, Bester posed a grave threat by orchestrating a high-level trafficking operation. "We are committed to dismantling these criminal networks, regardless of where the coordinators are located, and holding them fully accountable for the devastation they bring to the Birmingham area," Scott said.

Case Details

The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the DEA, the Birmingham Police Department, the Hoover Police Department, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany T. Byrd and Benjamin A. Keown, Sr. As of now, a sentencing date for Bester has not been scheduled.