Woman pleads guilty to knowing about murder of man found in burning car in Hartford and failing to report it

A Connecticut woman has pleaded guilty to knowing about the kidnapping and murder of a Massachusetts man whose body was found in a burning car in Hartford in 2020 and failing to report it, federal officials said.

Shamari “Dakota” Smith, 34, of Manchester, appeared in court in New Haven on Monday and pleaded guilty to the charge of misprision of a felony for her role in the crimes against 28-year-old Francisco Roman Jr., according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. That charge is filed when someone knows about the commission of a felony but does not report it to a judge or police.

According to court records, Francisco was kidnapped at gunpoint on Christmas Eve in 2020 when Calvin “Cutty” Roberson, who lived with Smith, and Brandon “B” Batiste, 33, of Springfield, Massachusetts, reportedly broke into his home in Chicopee, Massachusetts.

CT man pleads guilty in kidnapping, killing of man whose body was found in burning car in Hartford

Roberson and Batiste reportedly handcuffed and threatened Roman, ordering him to follow their instructions as they stole cash, marijuana and other items. The pair reportedly forced Roman into the rear of Roman’s 2010 Acura ZDX and took him to Connecticut, where Batiste allegedly shot and killed Roman on their way to Hartford, court records said.

The two left the car parked on Shultas Place in Hartford and went to an apartment that Roberson shared with Smith in Waterbury. They reportedly brought the stolen property inside and told Smith that they had robbed and killed Roman. Smith helped them either sell or dispose of the stolen property, according to court records.

Roberson was arrested on Feb. 21, 2021, and told law enforcement agents that Smith lied about her role in the sale or disposal of stolen property, federal officials said.

In April, Roberson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit kidnaping and one count of causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and has been in custody since his arrest, federal officials said. He has also pleaded guilty in Hampden Superior Court in Massachusetts in connection to three shooting deaths that took place in Springfield, Massachusetts, between 2006 and 2017, according to authorities.

Smith faces a maximum of three years in prison, according to federal officials. She has been released on a $150,000 bond while she awaits sentencing.

Batiste is awaiting trial, federal officials said.