FBI Seeks Additional Victims Of Accused Romance Scammer Who Drugged, Kidnapped Older Men In US And Mexico

A Las Vegas woman is accused of luring older men on dating websites, then drugging them and kidnapping them in order to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars, and she has been charged in one victim’s death, officials said.

Aurora Phelps, 43, is currently in custody in Mexico, where she allegedly brought her victims, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada. She has been charged in a 21-count superseding indictment with seven counts of wire fraud; three counts of mail fraud; six counts of bank fraud; three counts of identity theft; one count of kidnapping; and one count of kidnapping resulting in death.

Between July 1, 2021, and Dec. 9, 2022, Phelps allegedly connected with older men of dating websites or services, then arranged to meet them in person. She would allegedly drug the men in order to gain unauthorized access to their financial accounts, stealing the money to benefit herself and her family.

The indictment was the result of a two-year investigation by the FBI Las Vegas field office.

“This is a romance scam on steroids,” Spencer Evans, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Las Vegas division, said at a news conference on Friday.

Three of Phelps’ alleged victims died, though she has only been charged in one of the deaths. In that case, Phelps allegedly sedated the victim and took him across the U.S.–Mexico border in a wheelchair. He was later found dead in a hotel room in Mexico City.

One of the victims awoke from a coma after Phelps allegedly gave him prescription sedatives for a week, Evans said.

While the victims were drugged, Phelps allegedly stole their cars, withdrew money from their bank accounts, used their credit cards to purchase luxury items, and even tried to access social security and retirement accounts.

While one victim was “mostly unconscious” for nearly a week, Phelps allegedly gained access to his bank accounts, stole his iPhone, iPads, drivers license and bank cards. She also allegedly gained access to his investment accounts and sold around $3.3 million worth of Apple stock, but was unable to withdraw the cash.

“Its folks that are out looking for love that ran into something far more sinister,” Evans said.

Phelps, a dual-citizen who has residences in both Las Vegas and Mexico, has been on the FBI’s radar for a couple of years, Evans said. Similar complaints have been made to Mexican authorities.

Evans said the FBI is aware of possible additional victims in both the U.S. and Mexico. The FBI established a website seeking to identify additional victims, and anyone who believes they or someone they know may have been victimized by Phelps is encouraged to contact the FBI or complete the victim services survey online.

If convicted on all counts, Phelps faces up to life in prison.