Mother allegedly used young sons to commit 20 armed robberies

A 51-year-old mother has been accused of leading an armed robbery gang - which included her young sons and their friends.

Police said Cynthia White Roberson, who lost her job six weeks ago, made the gang commit the offences to pay for her rent and a car loan. She was charged in connection with at least 20 armed robberies in Phoenix and Glendale, Arizona, and aggravated assault.

Four boys, including her two sons aged 12 and 14, and three men, Jorge Elias, 18, Tony Vaughn, 20, and Jason Moore, 20, were also accused of the same offences.



Roberson drove the getaway car in all of the robberies, which took place in parks and streets on weekends, police said. She also allegedly coached a 14-year-old when he was having trouble stealing a mobile phone from a victim.

Sergeant Phil Roberts of Phoenix police said: "All of us should be disgusted by this. This is absolutely not how to raise your children."

Police do not know how much money the gang made but said the figure was unlikely to be very high, considering they usually made away with a phone or small amount of cash. Roberson's younger son has been taken into the custody of child protection services while the older brother is being held in a juvenile jail.