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

A convicted murderer serving a life sentence has been found guilty of running a massive drug trafficking operation from behind bars. Samdrekus Eugene Bester, 43, utilized a contraband cell phone to direct the distribution of 165 pounds of methamphetamine across the Birmingham area.

Federal Conviction

A federal jury in Birmingham delivered the guilty verdict for Samdrekus Eugene Bester following a four-day trial. He was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Bester was already serving time for the 2016 murder of 28-year-old Caudereo Tyrell Roseman. That fatal shooting occurred on May 13, 2016, in the 1700 block of Alameda Court in Birmingham.

Orchestrating Crime from Prison

According to trial evidence, Bester managed his drug trafficking network during December 2022 and January 2023. By using women on the outside to facilitate his operations, he successfully coordinated the movement of 165 pounds of meth throughout the greater Birmingham metro area.

During the investigation, the DEA recovered more than 10 pounds of methamphetamine directly tied to Bester's arrangements, while an additional 20 pounds was seized from a co-defendant’s home.

A Clear Warning

Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Phillip Williams Jr. stated, “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 Bester continued to pose a grave danger by organizing a large-scale operation from his cell. “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 added.

Investigation and Sentencing

The case 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. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany T. Byrd and Benjamin A. Keown, Sr., are handling the prosecution. A sentencing date has not yet been set.