A woman is set to be extradited from Mexico to the United States, according to the FBI, to confront federal charges involving a scheme to target older men through dating apps, drug them, and then steal their money and identities. Aurora Phelps, a 44-year-old dual U.S.-Mexican citizen, is already on trial for murder in Mexico.
Phelps is accused by U.S. prosecutors of orchestrating a scam over several years, with claims that it resulted in multiple deaths and millions of dollars in losses. This case has attracted cross-border attention due to the magnitude of the fraud and the ongoing efforts to identify potential additional victims.
Ms. Phelps will be extradited to the U.S.—but no date has been set yet,
stated Sandy Breault, an FBI spokesperson in the Las Vegas field office.
Federal prosecutors in Las Vegas indicted Phelps last year on 21 counts, including wire fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping. Notably, one kidnapping charge involves a death, which could lead to a life sentence if she is convicted on all charges.
Murder Trial Underway in Mexico
The murder trial in Mexico involves the case of Robert Erbach, an American retiree. Phelps met Erbach on Tinder in 2021 while he was in the midst of a divorce. They spent several months together until Erbach was found dead outside Guadalajara in December 2021. Authorities found that he died from asphyxiation.
Court documents allege Phelps drove Erbach’s BMW to Las Vegas and opened a bank account using his details. Surveillance footage reportedly shows her withdrawing money from his account. More than $50,000 was allegedly taken from Erbach’s accounts. After his death, Erbach’s son received suspicious text messages from his father’s phone.
Authorities suggest Phelps tried to redirect Erbach’s pension but failed due to insufficient verification.
Federal Indictment Alleges Broader Pattern
Phelps allegedly had other victims. In 2021, she met a man in Las Vegas, developed trust, and then reportedly drugged him to steal his personal and financial documents. She attempted to liquidate around $3.3 million in stock, but did not succeed.
In another case, Phelps allegedly sedated a man she met in November 2022 and transported him to Mexico City, where he later died. Another death in Guadalajara in May 2022 is also linked to Phelps in the indictment.
FBI Believes More Victims May Exist
The FBI believes not all victims have been identified. A public alert and news conference in February 2025 aimed to find more victims. At least 11 individuals targeted by Phelps have been identified by investigators.
Phelps supposedly used stolen personal information to access financial accounts from 2019 to 2022. While older men were allegedly the main targets, others may have been affected as well.
The FBI bulletin includes her photographs and known aliases, such as Aurora Flores and Aurora Velasco, to help identify her.