Deijae Devon Jester, who was convicted as a juvenile in the 2020 murder of rapper and songwriter Bashar Barakah Jackson, known professionally as Pop Smoke, has been sentenced to four years in Los Angeles County Jail for fentanyl-related offenses committed while he was serving time in a Los Angeles County juvenile detention facility.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced that Jester, 21, of Sylmar, was sentenced Aug. 13 in Department G of the San Fernando Courthouse. The sentence stems from allegations that he distributed or possessed fentanyl while detained at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall.
Jester pleaded no contest on June 23 to three felony counts: possession for sale of a controlled substance, bringing contraband into a jail, and bringing or sending contraband into a juvenile hall or camp.
The case adds another serious criminal matter to Jester's history after his juvenile conviction in connection with Pop Smoke's death.
According to prosecutors, the fentanyl incident occurred on Dec. 14, 2025, while Jester was housed at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall. Investigators allege that his mother, Nickia Tyonia Randall, visited him and attempted to pass him two latex balls containing fentanyl pills.
One of the latex balls was recovered by authorities and reportedly contained 25 fentanyl pills.
The District Attorney's Office said Randall was subsequently charged with three felony counts related to possession for sale and bringing contraband into a detention facility. Her case remains pending.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Deijae Devon Jester, of Sylmar.
- Sentence: Four years in Los Angeles County Jail.
- Sentencing date: Aug. 13, 2026.
- Fentanyl incident: Dec. 14, 2025.
- Location: Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall.
- Recovered drugs: One latex ball containing 25 fentanyl pills.
- Mother charged: Nickia Tyonia Randall faces separate felony charges in the case.
- Pop Smoke connection: Jester was convicted as a juvenile in the 2020 murder of rapper Pop Smoke.
What the Prosecutors Said
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman described the new case as a serious violation of the opportunity for rehabilitation that Jester received because of his age when he was convicted in the Pop Smoke case.
“Because he was a juvenile, the law afforded him an opportunity for redemption,” Hochman said.
The district attorney alleged that Jester instead became involved in trafficking fentanyl while inside a juvenile detention facility.
Hochman added that Jester had been given the opportunity to rehabilitate himself while serving seven years in juvenile hall, but prosecutors said he subsequently became involved in bringing fentanyl into the facility.
“He chose to smuggle in fentanyl,” Hochman said, arguing that the latest case demonstrated why authorities must continue holding defendants accountable when they commit additional serious offenses.
The District Attorney's Office said fentanyl trafficking inside a detention facility presents an especially serious danger because of the drug's potency and the potential for fatal overdoses.
The Role of Jester's Mother
Prosecutors also accused Randall of attempting to help bring the fentanyl into the juvenile facility during a visit with her son.
According to the District Attorney's Office, Randall allegedly attempted to pass Jester two latex balls containing fentanyl pills. One of those packages was recovered and contained 25 pills.
Randall was charged with possession for sale of a controlled substance, bringing contraband into a jail, and bringing or sending contraband into a juvenile hall or camp.
Her case was filed for warrant on Feb. 6, 2026, and remains pending.
The allegations against Randall have not been proven in court, and she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
What the Evidence Shows
The case against Jester resulted in a no-contest plea rather than a trial. His June 23 plea resolved the three felony counts related to the fentanyl and contraband allegations.
The recovered latex ball containing 25 fentanyl pills became a central piece of evidence described by prosecutors.
The case was investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Scientific Services and the Los Angeles County Probation Department Headquarters. The prosecution was handled by Deputy District Attorney Nathalie Garcia of the San Fernando Branch.
Hochman credited Garcia and the investigating agencies with stopping what prosecutors described as an effort to distribute fentanyl inside a juvenile detention facility.
“I want to thank Deputy District Attorney Nathalie Garcia for her diligence and outstanding work prosecuting this case,” Hochman said.
The Bigger Question
The case raises broader questions about how correctional facilities can prevent illegal drugs from entering secure environments, particularly when detainees have contact with visitors.
Fentanyl presents an additional challenge because even relatively small quantities can pose a serious overdose risk. Preventing drugs from entering detention facilities therefore requires screening visitors, monitoring communications, investigating suspected contraband and maintaining controls over detainee movements.
The case also highlights the complicated legal and rehabilitation issues surrounding people who commit serious offenses as juveniles and later face additional criminal allegations.
A skeptical view is that the current fentanyl case should be considered separately from Jester's juvenile conviction in the Pop Smoke killing. Because Jester was a juvenile at the time of that earlier offense, his case was handled under laws governing juvenile offenders, and the circumstances and legal consequences of that conviction should not automatically determine how the later allegations are viewed. Likewise, the allegations against his mother remain unresolved, and prosecutors' claims should not be treated as proof of guilt unless established in court.
What Happens Next
Jester has now been sentenced to four years in County Jail after pleading no contest to the three felony counts in the fentanyl case.
Randall's separate criminal case remains pending.
Authorities are also continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged contraband operation and the involvement of the people connected to it.
The prosecution and investigation involved multiple Los Angeles County agencies, including the District Attorney's Office, Sheriff's Department Scientific Services and the Probation Department.
Pop Smoke Connection
Jester was convicted as a juvenile in connection with the 2020 killing of Pop Smoke, whose legal name was Bashar Barakah Jackson.
The rapper, who had gained international attention for his breakout music career, was killed in Los Angeles in February 2020.
Because Jester was a juvenile at the time of the murder, his case was handled under California's juvenile justice system. The District Attorney's Office now points to the fentanyl case as a separate example of conduct occurring after he had already received an opportunity for rehabilitation.
The latest sentence does not change the original circumstances surrounding Pop Smoke's death, but it places Jester back in the criminal justice system years after his juvenile conviction.
What We Still Don't Know
- What specific evidence led investigators to conclude that Jester intended to distribute the fentanyl?
WHAT HAPPENED
to the second latex ball allegedly containing fentanyl?
- How did investigators determine the alleged roles of Jester and Randall?
- What sentence could Randall face if she is convicted?
- Will Randall's case proceed to trial or be resolved through a plea?
- Were any other people involved in the alleged effort to bring fentanyl into the facility?
- What additional security measures were implemented at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall after the incident?