A Las Vegas girl accused of luring males by way of courting 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 depend every of kidnapping leading to demise 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 response to an announcement from the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the District of Nevada.
It wasn’t clear if Phelps has an lawyer 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 answerable 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 by way of courting apps earlier than arranging dates, drugging them, and accessing monetary holdings on-line whereas they weren’t absolutely acutely aware, the federal officers stated.
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 in the end found lifeless in a Mexico Metropolis lodge room. He stated 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 stated.
“We imagine Aurora Phelps intentionally and methodically focused older males to drug them and steal from them,” Evans stated.
Evans stated she took vehicles and accessed social safety accounts and retirement plans as a part of her alleged crimes from 2019 to late 2022.
The full worth of her scheme, officers stated on the information convention, was within the lots of of 1000’s of {dollars}, and may very well be extra if extra victims are discovered. Phelps used the cash to buy luxurious items, amongst different issues, Evans alleged.
“It is a romance rip-off on steroids,” he stated.
Officers stated there are 11 complete victims, with 4 composing the idea of the federal indictment. Two of the 4 are from Nevada, they stated.
The FBI stated in a bulletin that officers imagine there could also be extra victims and inspired anybody who believes they could have been victimized to return ahead.
Phelps is alleged to have focused a variety of people who additionally included ladies and youthful males, the bulletin stated. The FBI stated 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 america, she is a twin citizenship with Mexico, officers stated.
Federal officers stated 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 stated.
Michelle Acevedo contributed.
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