A Las Vegas lady accused of luring males through relationship websites, drugging them, and taking cash was in custody in Mexico on Friday as U.S. authorities introduced a federal indictment towards her, NBC Information reported.
Aurora Phelps, 43, has been charged with one rely every of kidnapping leading to dying and kidnapping, in addition to seven counts of wire fraud, three counts every of mail fraud and identification theft, and 6 counts of financial institution fraud, in keeping with a press release from the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the District of Nevada.
It wasn’t clear if Phelps has an legal professional for the case. The federal public defender’s workplace in Nevada didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
The U.S. Lawyer for the District of Nevada and the particular agent accountable for the FBI’s Las Vegas workplace introduced the costs from a 21-count superseding indictment at a information convention Friday.
Phelps is alleged to have met primarily older males through relationship apps earlier than arranging dates, drugging them, and accessing monetary holdings on-line whereas they weren’t absolutely aware, the federal officers mentioned.
They allege Phelps, who has residences in Las Vegas and Guadalajara, did so on each side of the border.
Spencer Evans, the particular agent in cost, alleged one sufferer was drugged, taken throughout the border in his wheelchair, and finally found useless in a Mexico Metropolis resort room. He mentioned the Mexico Metropolis sufferer in addition to two others died shortly after their conferences with Phelps. A fourth sufferer was sedated to the purpose of turning into comatose however survived, he mentioned.
“We imagine Aurora Phelps intentionally and methodically focused older males to drug them and steal from them,” Evans mentioned.
Evans mentioned she took vehicles and accessed social safety accounts and retirement plans as a part of her alleged crimes from 2019 to late 2022.
The entire worth of her scheme, officers mentioned on the information convention, was within the lots of of 1000’s of {dollars}, and may very well be extra if further victims are discovered. Phelps used the cash to buy luxurious items, amongst different issues, Evans alleged.
“This can be a romance rip-off on steroids,” he mentioned.
Officers mentioned there are 11 whole victims, with 4 composing the idea of the federal indictment. Two of the 4 are from Nevada, they mentioned.
The FBI mentioned in a bulletin that officers imagine there could also be extra victims and inspired anybody who believes they might have been victimized to return ahead.
Phelps is alleged to have focused a variety of those that additionally included girls and youthful males, the bulletin mentioned. The FBI mentioned she has additionally passed by the names Aurora Flores, Aurora Velasco, and Aurora Alvarez.
Phelps additionally as soon as lived in Arkansas and, although she was born in the USA, she is a twin citizenship with Mexico, officers mentioned.
Federal officers mentioned Mexican authorities are investigating Phelps in cooperation with the FBI, which was working to extradite her from Mexico.
She faces a most sentence of life in jail, if convicted, the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace mentioned.
Michelle Acevedo contributed.
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