FBI: Las Vegas Woman Drugged and Robbed Elderly Men in a Three-Year ‘High-Stakes Romance Scam’

Mexican authorities have apprehended Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old woman accused of orchestrating a series of crimes in Las Vegas. Between 2019 and 2022, Phelps allegedly targeted elderly men through online dating platforms, luring them into a scheme involving deception, drugging, and theft.

The FBI has labeled this elaborate scheme as a "romance scam on steroids," shedding light on the sinister tactics employed by Phelps. Spencer Evans, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Las Vegas division, stated, "We believe Aurora Phelps deliberately and methodically targeted older men to drug them and steal from them."

Phelps, currently detained in Mexico, faces a staggering 21 charges, including wire fraud, identity theft, and a count of kidnapping resulting in death, as confirmed by Sue Fahami, the acting US attorney for the District of Nevada.

Operating under various aliases such as "Flores," "Velasco," and "Alvarez," Phelps meticulously selected her victims, primarily focusing on men in their 60s and 70s. However, she also managed to deceive younger individuals and, on occasion, even women, according to the authorities.

Once she incapacitated her victims, Phelps executed a series of calculated moves, including stealing their vehicles, siphoning funds from their bank and brokerage accounts, making extravagant purchases using their credit cards, and attempting to breach their Social Security and retirement accounts, Evans revealed.

One victim narrowly survived after falling into a coma due to the prescription sedatives administered by Phelps over a week-long period, highlighting the grave consequences of her actions.

Under the guise of "Sisy," Phelps lured unsuspecting individuals through her Tinder profile, proclaiming, "I am looking for friends. No fake people, no gente falsa." This facade of friendship was a smokescreen for her nefarious intentions.

Following her escape to Mexico, Phelps was apprehended by Mexican law enforcement and is currently awaiting extradition to the United States. Despite the identification of several victims, authorities suspect that Phelps' malevolent activities may extend far beyond what is currently known.

The FBI has urged individuals who may have fallen victim to Phelps to come forward, amplifying efforts to bring justice to those affected by her treacherous exploits.