American mother 'led sons in armed robbery gang'

US Police have arrested a woman they accuse of leading an armed robbery gang involving her 12- and 14-year-old sons.

Police said 51-year-old Cynthia White Roberson coached some of the four boys and three men who would face charges with her.

The suspects are accused of at least 20 armed robberies in Phoenix and Glendale, Arizona, since late April.

Police said Roberson lost her job six weeks ago and pushed her sons and some of the others into committing the robberies to pay for rent and a car loan.

Many of their alleged victims were also young and were physically assaulted. One 13-year-old was beaten up and forced to empty his pockets – which contained only an orange lollipop.