In a shocking revelation, federal authorities have arrested 43-year-old Aurora Phelps, a Las Vegas resident, for allegedly orchestrating a deadly romance scam that resulted in the deaths of at least three men. Phelps is accused of using popular dating apps such as Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble to lure older men, whom she then drugged and robbed. The FBI’s Las Vegas division has described the scheme as a “romance scam on steroids.”
According to a 21-count indictment, Phelps faces charges including wire fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping resulting in death. The investigation, spanning from July 2021 to December 2022, uncovered that Phelps targeted men primarily in their 60s and 70s, though some younger individuals and even women were also victimized. After incapacitating her victims with sedatives, Phelps allegedly stole their vehicles, withdrew funds from their bank accounts, made luxury purchases, and attempted to access their Social Security and retirement benefits.
One particularly harrowing incident involved Phelps heavily sedating a man and transporting him across the U.S.-Mexico border in a wheelchair. The victim was later found deceased in a Mexico City hotel room. In another case, a victim awoke from a coma after being drugged over several days. Authorities estimate that Phelps’s scheme netted hundreds of thousands of dollars, including an attempt to sell $3.3 million worth of Apple stock from one victim’s account, though she was unable to withdraw the funds.
Phelps, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Mexico, was apprehended in Mexico and is currently awaiting extradition to the United States. The FBI believes there may be additional victims and urges anyone with information to come forward. If convicted on all charges, Phelps faces a potential life sentence.
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