Elaine Angene Escoe, 41, was brought back to South Florida on Thursday after authorities in Jamaica arrested her in connection with a federal manhunt. Prosecutors say Escoe helped secure more than $32 million in taxpayer-funded COVID-19 relief money through fraud before leaving the U.S. after she failed to show up for a federal court hearing.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Escoe was indicted in 2025 on charges that include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and several counts of money laundering.
EXCLUSIVE: FBI ADDS ALLEGED COVID FRAUDSTER ACCUSED OF TAKING $5M FROM KIDS’ MEAL PROGRAM TO MOST WANTED LIST
Elaine Angene Escoe is accused of taking part in an alleged scheme that defrauded federal COVID-19 relief programs out of more than $32 million. Officials said she was returned to the United States after being captured in Jamaica. (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
Federal prosecutors said an arrest warrant was issued after Escoe failed to appear in court in May 2025. Investigators allege she then fled to Jamaica, where authorities later found and arrested her after the FBI received a tip about her whereabouts.
“Elaine Angene Escoe’s arrest and return to the United States demonstrates that no one is beyond the reach of American justice,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said.
Blanche said Escoe is accused of involvement in a multimillion-dollar COVID-19 relief fraud scheme targeting taxpayer-backed programs. He added that the Justice Department will continue pursuing people accused of stealing from the American public.
FBI NABS ALLEGED $547M MEDICARE FRAUD FUGITIVE OVERSEAS, THIRD CAPTURE FROM ‘MOST WANTED FRAUDSTERS’ LIST
A more recent FBI-provided image of Elaine Angene Escoe, who authorities say was arrested in Jamaica after allegedly fleeing the United States while facing federal fraud charges. (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
Patel called Escoe’s arrest another milestone in the FBI’s international fraud crackdown, saying she is the fourth alleged “Most Wanted Fraudster” captured in the past five weeks.
“The historic success of the ‘Most Wanted Fraudster’ list continues as the FBI and our partners just captured our fourth Most Wanted Fraudster in 5 weeks, and yet another high value target returned to the U.S. by this FBI,” Patel said. “Elaine Angene Escoe, on the run since May 2025, was captured in Jamaica while living under a fake identity of ‘Harley Newman’ — and returned to the United States today to face justice.”
Patel said Escoe is charged with being involved in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering connected to a scheme that fraudulently obtained more than $32 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds.
He added that the FBI has returned more than 30 high-value targets to the U.S. since June. Patel said four alleged fraud suspects captured over the past five weeks are collectively charged with nearly $1.8 billion in fraud after spending more than 3,500 days on the run across three continents.
FILE – FBI Director Kash Patel said Escoe’s arrest marks the fourth alleged “Most Wanted Fraudster” captured in the past five weeks. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
“Under this administration, fraud is no longer tolerated — and those who steal from American taxpayers have nowhere to hide,” Patel said.
Authorities said the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, Jamaican law enforcement and the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office coordinated Escoe’s return to the U.S.
