A woman from Las Vegas, charged with enticing men through dating platforms, administering drugs, and stealing their money, was apprehended in Mexico on Friday as U.S. officials revealed a federal indictment against her.
Aurora Phelps, 43, faces serious legal repercussions with charges including one count of kidnapping resulting in death and kidnapping, alongside multiple counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, identity theft, and bank fraud, as detailed in a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada.
The status of Phelps’ legal representation remains uncertain. The Nevada federal public defender’s office has yet to respond to the inquiry made.
On Friday, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada, along with the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Las Vegas office, revealed the charges stemming from a 21-count superseding indictment during a press conference.
According to federal officials, Phelps reportedly targeted primarily older men through dating apps, setting up dates, drugging them, and then gaining access to their financial accounts while they were incapacitated.
It is claimed that Phelps, who owns homes in Las Vegas and Guadalajara, engaged in activities on both sides of the border.
Spencer Evans, the special agent overseeing the case, claimed that one victim was sedated, transported across the border in a wheelchair, and eventually found deceased in a hotel room in Mexico City. He reported that the individual from Mexico City, along with two others, passed away soon after their encounters with Phelps. A fourth individual was sedated to such an extent that they entered a comatose state, yet managed to survive, he stated.
“It is our conviction that Aurora Phelps intentionally and systematically sought out older men to incapacitate and rob,” Evans stated.
Evans reported that she acquired vehicles and accessed social security accounts along with retirement plans during her purported offenses from 2019 to late 2022.
Officials stated at the press briefing that the overall worth of her plan was in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and it could increase if more victims are identified. Evans claimed that Phelps spent the funds on high-end items, among other purchases.
“This is an extreme version of a romance scam,” he stated.
Authorities reported a total of 11 victims, with four forming the foundation of the federal charges. They mentioned that two out of the four are from Nevada.
Authorities have indicated in a recent announcement that they suspect additional victims may exist and are urging anyone who thinks they might have been affected to step forward.
The bulletin indicated that Phelps is accused of having focused on a diverse group of individuals, which also encompassed women and younger men. The FBI reported that she is also known by the names Aurora Flores, Aurora Velasco, and Aurora Alvarez.
Phelps previously resided in Arkansas and, while she was born in the United States, she holds dual citizenship with Mexico, according to officials.
Authorities have announced that there is an ongoing investigation involving Phelps, with Mexican officials collaborating with the FBI, which is actively pursuing her extradition from Mexico.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office indicated that she could receive a life sentence if found guilty.