Extradition and Charges in Dating App Fraud Case

Aurora Phelps, a 44-year-old woman with dual citizenship in the U.S. and Mexico, faces extradition from Mexico to the United States to confront federal charges. The FBI has confirmed her extradition to Newsweek. Phelps is presently on trial for murder in Mexico but is accused by U.S. prosecutors of a long-term scam targeting older men through dating apps. This scheme allegedly resulted in multiple deaths and millions of dollars in losses.

The Alleged Scheme and U.S. Charges

The accusations against Phelps have caught attention across borders due to the alleged scale of her fraud. Investigators suggest potential unidentified victims remain. Sandy Breault, an FBI spokesperson, stated that though the extradition is set, no date has been announced. Phelps faces indictment from federal prosecutors in Las Vegas on 21 counts including wire fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping. The kidnapping count involves a victim who died. If all charges lead to convictions, she may face a life sentence.

Murder Trial in Mexico

Phelps’ murder trial in Mexico involves the death of Robert Erbach, an American living near Guadalajara. In 2021, while separated and going through a divorce, Erbach matched with Phelps on Tinder. The two dated for months before attending a concert together in Guadalajara in December 2021. Erbach was last seen at this event.

Two days later, authorities discovered Erbach’s body by a roadside, determining death by asphyxiation while struggling to identify him. According to court records, Phelps drove Erbach’s BMW to Las Vegas after his death and opened a bank account under his name. Surveillance footage reportedly shows Phelps using Erbach’s debit card to make withdrawals, totaling over $50,000. During this time, Erbach’s son received suspicious text messages from his father’s phone suggesting relocation to Ecuador, urging cessation of searches.

Federal Indictment Details

The federal indictment extends beyond Erbach. Prosecutors claim Phelps employed similar tactics with another man in Las Vegas in 2021. After gaining his trust, she allegedly drugged him unknowingly, leaving him incapacitated for days. During this time, she reportedly stole his personal items and attempted to liquidate $3.3 million in Apple stock, though access to the funds was unsuccessful.

In November 2022, another alleged victim encountered Phelps through a dating app. Prosecutors say she sedated him, moved him across the U.S.-Mexico border to a hotel in Mexico City, where he was later found dead. Additionally, prosecutors link Phelps to another death in Guadalajara in May 2022, wherein she allegedly used a deceased man’s account to purchase a gold coin sent to her address.

Ongoing Investigation and Potential for More Victims

The FBI suspects existing cases are merely portions of Phelps’ alleged criminal activities. A public alert and news conference in February 2025 aimed to identify further victims. So far, officials have identified at least 11 individuals purportedly targeted by Phelps. Using stolen data, she allegedly accessed victims’ financial records, including bank and Social Security accounts.

While older men were primarily targeted, the FBI indicates possible involvement of women and younger victims. Photographs and aliases linked to Phelps, such as Aurora Flores, Aurora Velasco, and Aurora Alvarez, were included in public releases.