The defendant’s mother who allegedly attempted to pass him two latex balls containing fentanyl pills while visiting him was also charged 

August 15, 2026 – SAN FERNANDO, CA – Deijae Devon Jester, convicted as a juvenile in the 2020 murder of rapper and songwriter Bashar Barakah Jackson, known professionally as Pop Smoke, was sentenced to four years in County Jail for distributing fentanyl while serving time in a Los Angeles County juvenile detention facility.

“Deijae Jester committed a devastating crime when he took the life of Pop Smoke. Because he was a juvenile, the law afforded him an opportunity for redemption. Instead of embracing that opportunity, he chose to traffic one of the deadliest drugs imaginable from inside a juvenile detention facility,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. “He was given the chance at rehabilitation by serving seven years in a juvenile hall but he chose to smuggle in fentanyl. Now he faces multiple years in county jail. If you continue to commit serious crimes after being given a second chance, this office will hold you fully accountable. I hope others take notice before making the same destructive choices.”

Jester (21) of Sylmar was sentenced August 13 in Department G of the San Fernando Courthouse in case 26SFCF00250. He pleaded no contest on June 23 to one felony count each of possession for sale of a controlled substance, bringing contraband into a jail and bringing or sending contraband into a juvenile hall or camp.

On December 14, 2025, while Jester was housed at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall, his mother, Nickia Tyonia Randall, visited him and allegedly attempted to pass him two latex balls containing fentanyl pills. One of the latex balls was recovered and contained 25 fentanyl pills.

Randall was charged with one felony count each of 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 was filed for warrant on February 6, 2026. Her case remains pending.

The Jester case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Nathalie Garcia of the San Fernando Branch and investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Scientific Services and the Los Angeles County Probation Department Headquarters.

“I want to thank Deputy District Attorney Nathalie Garcia for her diligence and outstanding work prosecuting this case, as well as the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Scientific Services and the Los Angeles County Probation Department Headquarters for their excellent investigation,” District Attorney Hochman said. “Their efforts stopped deadly fentanyl from being distributed inside a juvenile detention facility and ensured those responsible were brought to justice.”

The charges in the open case are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Source: Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office