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Conn. man sentenced to 29 years for role in kidnapping, murder of Mass. man
Calvin Roberson was arrested in 2021.
A Connecticut man has been sentenced to 29 years in federal prison for his role in the 2020 kidnapping and murder of a Massachusetts man, authorities announced.
Calvin Roberson, also known as “Cutty,” 41, of Waterbury was sentenced to serve 348 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, according to the office of the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut. Prosecutors alleged that Roberson, along with Brandon Batiste, kidnapped 28-year-old Francisco Roman, Jr. at gunpoint from his home in Chicopee on Dec. 24, 2020. They allegedly threatened to harm the 28-year-old if he did not comply, handcuffing him and stealing money, marijuana, and other items from him.
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Roberson and Batiste forced Roman into the back of his own car and drove to Connecticut. Batiste allegedly shot and killed Roman in the car while they were headed to Hartford.
They then allegedly drove the car to Shultas Place in Hartford and left it parked on the street.
First responders on Dec. 26 responded to Shultas Place where they found Roman’s car on fire. His body was found inside once the fire was extinguished.
The U.S. Attorney’s office said after leaving Roman’s car, Roberson and Batiste drove a separate vehicle to an apartment in Waterbury that Roberson shared with Shamari Smith, taking the stolen property from Roman with them.
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Authorities said Roberson was arrested on Feb. 11, 2021 and has remained in custody since then. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and causing the death of a person through use of a firearm last year.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Batiste pleaded guilty to the same charges and in December was sentenced to 42 years in prison.
Smith, who was accused of lying to law enforcement about the crime pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony and was sentenced to 25 years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
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