Elaine Angene Escoe was captured in Jamaica and returned to South Florida after allegedly defrauding the government of $32 million in COVID-19 relief funds.
Elaine Angene Escoe was returned to South Florida on Saturday after being captured in Jamaica by authorities acting on a tip from the FBI. The 41-year-old was a fugitive on the agency's "Most Wanted Fraudsters" list after failing to appear in federal court in May 2025. Prosecutors allege Escoe participated in a conspiracy that fraudulently obtained more than $32 million in taxpayer-funded relief funds, including the Paycheck Protection Program and the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. The scheme involved submitting over 90 fraudulent applications using fabricated tax documents and bank records. While Escoe was on the run, she lived under the fake identity "Harley Newman." FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the arrest marks a significant milestone in the international fraud crackdown. Under the administration, Patel noted that fraud is no longer tolerated and those who exploit taxpayer resources will be held accountable. Escoe is the final defendant to be charged in the scheme, following the convictions of five co-defendants.