CT woman sentenced to over two years in prison for knowledge of kidnapping, murder in 2020
A Manchester woman has been sentenced to just over two years in prison for failing to report the murder of a Massachusetts man in December 2020.
Shamari Smith, 34, also known as “Dakota,” received a 25-month prison sentence during a hearing in federal court in Hartford Friday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. The prison term will be followed by a year of supervised release, a judge ordered.
According to federal officials, Brandon Batiste and Calvin Roberson, also known as “Cutty,” kidnapped 28-year-old Francisco Roman Jr. at gunpoint from his residence in Chicopee, Massachusetts on Dec. 24, 2020.
Batiste and Roberson threatened to harm Roman if he did not comply with their orders, federal officials said. The men handcuffed him and stole cash, marijuana and other items from Roman.
Batiste and Roberson forced Roman into the rear of his 2010 Acura ZDX and took him as well as the stolen goods to Connecticut, according to federal officials.
Federal officials said Batiste shot and killed Roman while they were headed to Hartford. They drove Roman’s Acura to Shultas Place in Hartford where firefighters responded on Dec. 26, 2020, and found the vehicle on fire. Roman’s body was later found inside the torched car.
According to federal officials, Batiste and Roberson drove a different car to an apartment that Roberson shared with Smith in Waterbury, where they unloaded most of the property stolen from Roman, which included a Gucci hat, earrings, a necklace with an “F” pendant and a PlayStation 5.
On December 26, 2020, Smith wore the hat, earrings, and necklace in a video shared on Snapchat, federal officials said. The following day, Smith learned that Roman’s family saw the Snapchat video and that the items she wore belonged to the homicide victim, according to federal officials.
Instead of notifying authorities, Smith sold the items, federal officials said.
According to federal officials, Smith also lied during an interview with FBI members on Feb. 11, 2021, about what she knew concerning Roberson’s actions and her role in the disposal of the stolen property.
Smith’s sentence Friday comes after she took a plea deal on June 5, pleading guilty to misprision of a felony. Smith is free on a $150,000 bond and is required to report to prison on Dec. 13, officials said.
Batiste and Roberson have each pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm. They are both detained while they await sentencing.