A Jamaican national accused of orchestrating a multimillion-dollar COVID-19 relief fraud scheme has been apprehended in Jamaica and returned to the United States to face federal charges. Elaine Angene Escoe, 41, arrived in South Florida on Thursday, July 24, 2026, following her arrest by Jamaican law enforcement, as announced by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. This development marks a significant step in federal efforts to prosecute individuals who allegedly defrauded pandemic relief programs.
"Escoe’s arrest marks the fourth capture from the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters list in the past five weeks." — Kash Patel, FBI Director
Federal prosecutors have charged Escoe with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and multiple counts of money laundering. According to investigators, Escoe and five co-defendants allegedly submitted more than 90 fraudulent applications for various federal pandemic relief programs between May 2020 and November 2021. These programs included the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), and the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program, all designed to support businesses and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Authorities allege that the applications contained false information regarding crucial metrics such as employee counts, payroll expenses, and business revenues, misleading federal agencies into disbursing funds. The alleged scheme resulted in the fraudulent acquisition of approximately $29.1 million from PPP, $1.2 million from RRF, and $3.8 million from SVOG, accumulating a total of more than $32 million in federal relief money. Following the fraudulent acquisition, the FBI stated that Escoe and her alleged co-conspirators transferred money among themselves and businesses they controlled. They also reportedly withdrew substantial amounts of cash and utilized blank signed checks in an attempt to obscure the origin of the illicit proceeds, characteristic tactics in complex money laundering operations.
All five of Escoe’s co-defendants have either pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial, highlighting the collaborative nature of the alleged fraud and the ongoing legal proceedings against those involved. Escoe, however, became a fugitive after a federal arrest warrant was issued for her on May 22, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Investigators stated that Escoe had been notified of a scheduled court appearance on June 5, 2025, but failed to appear. She was last seen in Palm Beach County on June 3, 2025, before allegedly fleeing to Jamaica.
In Jamaica, Escoe reportedly lived under the assumed name "Harley Newman" in an attempt to evade capture. The FBI had placed her on its Most Wanted Fraudsters list, underscoring the severity of the charges and the agency's commitment to her apprehension. A reward of up to $150,000 was offered for information leading to her arrest and conviction. The FBI eventually received a tip that proved crucial, leading Jamaican authorities to locate and arrest her, facilitating her return to the U.S. to face justice.
FBI Director Kash Patel commented on the significance of Escoe's capture, noting it as the fourth arrest from the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters list within the past five weeks. Patel further elaborated on the broader success of federal law enforcement efforts, stating that the FBI and its partners have returned more than 30 high-value fugitives to the U.S. since June. According to Director Patel, the four recently captured suspects collectively face allegations involving nearly $1.8 billion in fraud, having spent more than 3,500 days as fugitives across three continents. This underscores the scale of fraud perpetrated against federal programs and the extensive efforts required to bring alleged perpetrators to justice.
Court records indicate that Escoe immigrated to South Florida from Jamaica at age nine. She later graduated from Olympic Heights High School in Boca Raton with a 3.8 grade-point average and subsequently earned degrees in psychology and finance from Lynn University. Her academic background provides a stark contrast to the sophisticated financial crimes she is now accused of committing. With her return to the U.S., Escoe will now proceed through the federal judicial system to address the charges leveled against her.
