🔴 US Woman Jailed 30 Years for Failed Birmingham Assassination Plot

Former admin worker Aimee Betro, from Wisconsin, tried to shoot Sikander Ali at point-blank range outside his Yardley home on 7 September 2019, but the pistol she used failed to fire. Hours later she returned and fired three shots at the empty property. The would-be assassin was part of a revenge plot orchestrated by Mohammed Nabil Nazir, 31, and his father Mohammed Aslam, 56, from Derby. The feud followed a violent 2018 altercation at the clothing store of Mr Ali’s father, Aslat Mahumad, which left the Aslam family injured.

The Crime

Betro met Nazir via a dating app and developed a close personal relationship. The music lover and wannabe deejay made three trips to the UK in nine months, including for Christmas 2018, May 2019, and August 2019. Evidence presented in court showed that by the time she arrived in August 2019, she had been recruited into the plot, motivated by infatuation with Nazir.

CCTV footage captured Betro waiting outside Measham Grove for Mr Ali’s return. Wearing a niqab to conceal her identity, she approached him with a Highpoint C9 pistol —generally known as anything but a premium firearm. The gun jammed, allowing Mr Ali to escape.
Betro also sent taunting text messages to Mr Ali’s father, warning him of her intent. She told them to “stop playing hide and seek”.
The family she was trying to kill ignored her demands and when, in the early hours of the following day, she returned in a taxi and fired three rounds towards the house, nobody was at home. Bullets entered an upstairs windows of the property, damaging a mirror.

After the failed attempt, Betro returned to the US with Nazir. They later hatched a plan to ship ammunition and firearm parts to the UK, intending to frame another associate of Nazir’s. Betro was eventually tracked down in Armenia after five years on the run and extradited to the UK earlier this year.

Court Proceedings & Sentence

Betro was convicted by a jury earlier this month of three offences: conspiracy to murder, possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, and fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of ammunition.

At Birmingham Crown Court, HHJ Simon Drew KC explained how the sentence was determined. He noted that while there are no Sentencing Council guidelines for conspiracy to murder, guidance for attempted murder provides a useful structure. Conspiracy to murder involves agreement to kill, but in Betro’s case, she had gone beyond agreement and attempted to kill Mr Ali.

• Culpability: Very High (Category A) due to her role as the gunwoman.
• Harm: Lower (Category 3) since no one was physically injured, though Mr Ali was placed in significant fear.
• Starting point: 25 years, with a range of 20–30 years for a Category A3 attempted murder.

Aggravating factors included her leading role, the use of a firearm, and targeting more than one person. Mitigating factors were her lack of prior convictions, age, and the prospect of serving time far from home in the UK.

HHJ Drew concluded that a sentence of 30 years imprisonment was appropriate, ensuring consistency with the sentences given to Nazir (32 years) and Aslam (10 years). Concurrent sentences of six years for possession of a firearm with intent and two years for importation of ammunition were also imposed. Betro will serve two-thirds of her sentence before being eligible for release on licence.

The judge described her as a serious risk to the public but concluded that life imprisonment or an extended sentence was not necessary. Deprivation orders were made for her mobile phones and MacBook, and a forfeiture order was made for the ammunition.

Aftermath

Betro showed no emotion as the sentence was handed down. Nazir and Aslam were jailed last November for their roles in the plot, with Nazir receiving 32 years and Aslam 10 years. Det Ch Insp Alastair Orencas of West Midlands Police praised the international effort to track Betro down, involving UK authorities, Armenian officials, the FBI, and the National Crime Agency.
Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all stay safe, and I’ll see you then.