Aimee Betro: US woman charged with conspiracy to murder Birmingham shop owner

A US woman has been charged with conspiracy to murder a Birmingham shop owner, West Midlands Police has said.

Aimee Betro, originally from Wisconsin in America, has been charged in the UK after being extradited from Armenia where she was arrested last summer.

The 45-year-old is alleged to have taken part in a September 2019 plot to murder the owner of a clothing shop, and members of his family, in the West Midlands city, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

Police have said a man was threatened with a gun during the incident in South Yardley, but added he was able to escape after the weapon jammed.

Betro has also been charged with possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

She faces a further charge in relation to the alleged importation of ammunition into the UK, as part of a Derbyshire Constabulary investigation.

Betro was flown into Gatwick Airport on Thursday afternoon by specialist National Extradition Unit officers from the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) Joint International Crime Centre (JICC).

She is due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

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Ben Samples, deputy chief crown prosecutor for the CPS in West Midlands, said: “CPS West Midlands has worked closely with West Midlands Police, Derbyshire Police, the Armenian authorities and our own extradition unit to bring Ms Betro back to face proceedings in a UK court for alleged crimes that took place here.

“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Ms Betro are active and that she has the right to a fair trial.

“It is extremely important there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”