The FBI has confirmed that a woman accused of using dating apps to victimize older men will be extradited from Mexico to the United States. Aurora Phelps, 44, holding both U.S. and Mexican citizenship, faces federal charges in the U.S. for a scheme that reportedly led to multiple deaths and substantial financial losses.
Details of the Investigation
Phelps is currently facing a murder trial in Mexico related to the death of Robert Erbach, a retiree from the U.S. living near Guadalajara. U.S. prosecutors allege she executed a prolonged operation using dating apps to identify targets. The scale of this alleged fraud has caught significant attention across borders.
“Ms. Phelps will be extradited to the U.S., but no date has been set yet,”stated Sandy Breault, FBI spokesperson from Las Vegas.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
Federal prosecutors in Las Vegas indicted Phelps last year on 21 counts, including wire fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping. One count of kidnapping alleges that a victim died due to the crime. Conviction on these charges could result in a life sentence.
Murder Trial and Incidents in Mexico
The murder charge in Mexico revolves around Robert Erbach’s death. Phelps met Erbach on Tinder in 2021 amid his divorce proceedings. They dated for several months.
In December 2021, Erbach planned a concert date with Phelps at the Hard Rock Hotel in Guadalajara. It was his last known sighting. Authorities found his body two days later, determining asphyxiation as the cause of death. Initial investigations struggled to identify him.
Court records indicate Phelps drove Erbach’s BMW to Las Vegas, opened a Wells Fargo account using his details, and withdrew over $50,000 from his accounts. Surveillance footage reportedly captured her using Erbach’s debit card. Phelps also allegedly attempted to redirect his pension payments, but the effort failed due to a lack of verified signature.
Federal Indictment’s Allegations
Prosecutors claim Erbach was not the sole victim. Phelps supposedly targeted another man in Las Vegas in 2021, gaining his trust over multiple lunch dates. Investigators allege Phelps drugged the man, leaving him unconscious for nearly five days during which she stole his phone and financial documents. She attempted to liquidate $3.3 million of his Apple stock, but did not succeed in withdrawing the funds.
In another case, Phelps allegedly sedated a man she met via a dating app in November 2022, taking him across the U.S.-Mexico border. He was later found dead in a Mexico City hotel room. The indictment ties her to yet another death in Guadalajara in May 2022.
Ongoing Investigation and Alerts
The FBI suspects there are further unidentified victims. A public alert was issued, and a news conference held in February 2025 sought to identify more targets. At least 11 people have been identified so far.
Prosecutors assert Phelps employed dating platforms to collect financial information from victims between 2019 and 2022. It is believed she drugged victims to access their accounts and records. While mostly targeting older men, the investigation notes possibilities of younger victims and women as well.
The FBI bulletin includes Phelps’ photograph and multiple aliases used in her alleged activities.
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