Police say Arizona woman led sons on crime spree, drawing comparisons to infamous ‘Ma Barker’

PHOENIX — Cynthia Mary Roberson is an unemployed mother who police say led her 12- and 14-year-old sons and their friends to commit at least 20 armed robberies and assaults, including the beating of a teenage boy who had nothing more than an orange lollipop.

Phoenix mother accused of leading armed robbery gang involving her underage sons

PHOENIX — A 51-year-old woman guilted her young sons and their friends into helping her pay bills by committing at least 20 armed robberies in the Phoenix area, authorities said Monday.