Elaine Escoe, a 41-year-old fugitive featured on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters List, has been captured in Jamaica and returned to Florida to face federal charges connected to an alleged $32 million COVID-19 relief fund fraud scheme. U.S. law enforcement authorities confirmed the transfer following an international manhunt that utilized local and diplomatic security partnerships.
Federal indictments charging Escoe with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, alongside multiple substantive counts of wire fraud and money laundering, were filed in 2025. According to court records, Escoe had been on the run since May 2025 after failing to appear in court following her initial charges. Investigators located her residing in Jamaica under the alias “Harley Newman.”
The apprehension followed the June 4 creation of the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters List, a targeted initiative designed to track down individuals accused of stealing pandemic assistance funds. Escoe was added to the roster four days later, leading to her arrest less than two months afterward with the collaborative assistance of Jamaican law enforcement.
“This Most Wanted Fraudster allegedly obtained tens of millions in COVID-19 relief, stealing critical resources from legitimate businesses during a national crisis,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a July 25 statement. “She fled the country believing she could escape justice but ultimately could not. Those who exploit taxpayer-funded programs will be held accountable by this Department of Justice, no matter how long it takes or where they attempt to hide.”
International Coordination and Arrest Details
The operation to capture and repatriate the fugitive involved multiple domestic and international agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service Regional Security Office stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston. Jamaican law enforcement partners—specifically Jamaica’s Constabulary Force and its Fugitive Apprehension Team—worked closely with U.S. personnel to execute the arrest.
“This most-wanted fraudster faces charges stemming from a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud taxpayer-funded COVID-19 relief programs,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “The Fraud Division will continue to vigorously prosecute those who steal from the American people.”
Authorities note that Escoe is the last remaining defendant charged in connection with this specific multi-million dollar fraud network. Five other co-conspirators were previously prosecuted and sentenced following a federal trial in December.
The Relief Fund Fraud Scheme
Federal prosecutors allege that Escoe and her co-conspirators submitted or caused the submission of fraudulent applications seeking more than $32 million across several federal pandemic assistance initiatives. These programs included the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, Shuttered Venue Operators Grants, and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds.
Investigators state that the network used falsified tax documents, fabricated bank records, and other fraudulent financial paperwork to misrepresent payroll, earnings, and business operations to program administrators and lenders. Some applications were filed on behalf of businesses directly controlled by the conspirators, while others were submitted for third parties in exchange for substantial kickbacks reaching up to 50 percent of the loan proceeds. The illicit funds were subsequently laundered among the participants.
Legal proceedings for other members of the conspiracy concluded following a federal jury trial in December. Defendants Alfred Davis, Cher Davis, and Latoya Clark were convicted by a jury, while James McGhow and Gino Jourdan entered guilty pleas prior to trial. Sentences handed down by the court included 235 months of imprisonment for Alfred Davis, 87 months for Cher Davis, 70 months for Clark, 46 months for Jourdan, and 42 months for McGhow.
Broader Context of Pandemic Relief Fraud
Between 2020 and 2021, under the administrations of Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden, the U.S. Congress authorized roughly $4.6 trillion in emergency relief funds designed to help families and businesses survive the economic shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the rapid rollout and immense volume of capital deployed, significant portions of these funds fell victim to organized criminal schemes.
An April 2025 Government Accountability Office report indicated that fraudsters targeted at least 19 distinct pandemic relief programs, with Unemployment Insurance, the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program, and Economic Injury Disaster Loans among the more commonly defrauded pandemic-relief programs. Government watchdogs and investigative bodies continue to pursue outstanding suspects as part of an ongoing nationwide enforcement effort.
Escoe is scheduled to appear in federal court in Florida to face formal arraignment proceedings. Further updates regarding court dates and trial schedules will be provided through the U.S. Department of Justice and federal court dockets.
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