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Las Vegas Woman Indicted for Allegedly Drugging and Defrauding Victims
A woman from Las Vegas is currently in custody in Mexico, facing serious federal charges after being accused of luring men through dating platforms, drugging them, and stealing their money. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada has announced a federal indictment against Aurora Phelps, 43, detailing various serious counts against her.
Phelps faces a multitude of charges including one count of kidnapping resulting in death, one count of kidnapping, seven counts of wire fraud, three counts each of mail fraud and identity theft, and six counts of bank fraud. These allegations stem from a broader investigation into her activities that reportedly occurred between 2019 and late 2022.
At a recent news conference, officials unveiled a 21-count superseding indictment, where both the U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada and the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Las Vegas office discussed the severe implications of Phelps’s alleged crimes. It has been reported that Phelps primarily targeted older males through dating applications.
The allegations suggest that Phelps arranged dates with her victims, drugged them, and gained unauthorized access to their financial resources while they were incapacitated. Investigators indicated that her actions spanned both the United States and Mexico, exploiting jurisdictions to facilitate her alleged criminal activities.
Special agent Spencer Evans outlined a particularly troubling case involving a victim who was sedated, transported in a wheelchair across the border, and later found deceased in a hotel room in Mexico City. This victim, along with two others, died following their encounters with Phelps, while a fourth individual became comatose but ultimately survived.
“We believe Aurora Phelps deliberately and methodically targeted older men to drug and rob them,” Evans stated, emphasizing the calculated nature of her actions.
Phelps is alleged to have stolen vehicles, accessed Social Security accounts, and exploited retirement funds as part of her fraud schemes. Officials estimate that the total financial impact may be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, with the potential for that figure to increase if further victims come to light. It has also been claimed that Phelps utilized the stolen funds to purchase luxury items.
Describing the case as “a romance scam on steroids,” Evans highlighted the elaborate methods used by Phelps to carry out her alleged crimes. The indictment cites four victims as the core of the case, with two of them residing in Nevada.
In an effort to bring more victims forward, the FBI has released a bulletin, suggesting that there may be additional individuals affected by Phelps’s actions. They urged anyone who suspects they have been victimized to come forward. It was noted that Phelps may have also targeted a broader demographic, including women and younger men, under various aliases such as Aurora Flores, Aurora Velasco, and Aurora Alvarez.
Although Phelps was born in the United States, she possesses dual citizenship with Mexico and has lived in both Arkansas and Guadalajara. As the investigation continues, federal officials indicated that Mexican authorities are collaborating with the FBI in pursuit of her extradition back to the United States.
Should Phelps be convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. The ongoing case raises critical concerns about the vulnerabilities present in online dating platforms and the need for heightened awareness regarding potential scams.
This information has been reported by various media outlets, including a detailed article from NBCNews.com.
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www.yahoo.com