FBI’s Most Wanted COVID Fraudster Extradited From Jamaica To US For Alleged $32M Fraud | Today’s news
The U.S. Department of Justice announced Saturday that a woman accused of helping to orchestrate a $32 million COVID-19 aid fraud scheme has been extradited from Jamaica to the United States after spending more than a year on the run.
Elaine Escoe, 41, who was on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraud List, was returned to the Southern District of Florida to face federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and multiple counts of wire fraud and money laundering.
Escoe was indicted in 2025, but fled to Jamaica after a federal warrant was issued in May of that year, according to the Justice Department. She reportedly failed to appear for a scheduled court hearing and remained on the run until Jamaican authorities arrested her based on a tip obtained by an FBI investigation.
US officials said her extradition was carried out through a joint operation involving the FBI, the US Marshals Service, the Diplomatic Security Service, the Jamaican Police Force and the Jamaican Fugitive Apprehension Team.
Alleged $32 million fraud scheme
Federal prosecutors allege that Escoe and her co-conspirators fraudulently claimed more than $32 million from several COVID-era relief programs, including the Payroll Protection Program (PPP), the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), the Closed Space Operators Grant (SVOG), and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.
Investigators said the group submitted fraudulent applications that falsely claimed business wages, income and operations to maximize federal funding.
In support of the claims, prosecutors say the conspirators created false tax returns, fabricated bank records and other false financial documents that lenders and government agencies relied on to approve loans and grants.
Some applications were allegedly made for businesses controlled by members of the conspiracy, while others were made on behalf of third parties in exchange for kickbacks that prosecutors say amounted to up to 50% of loan proceeds. Authorities also say the proceeds of the fraud were laundered among the conspirators.
The last defendant in the case
Escoe is the latest defendant charged in the alleged conspiracy.
Three co-defendants – Alfred Davis, Cher Davis and Latoya Clark – were convicted by a federal jury after a trial in December 2025, while James McGhow and Gino Jourdan pleaded guilty.
According to the Justice Department, Alfred Davis was sentenced to 235 months in prison, Cher Davis to 87 months, Latoya Clark to 70 months, Jourdan to 46 months and McGhow to 42 months.
FBI emphasizes anti-fraud crackdown
The FBI said Escoe had been living in Jamaica under the false identity of “Harley Newman” before her arrest.
FBI Director Kash Patel said Escoe is the fourth person captured on the bureau’s Most Wanted list in the five weeks since the list was released, adding that more than 30 high-value fugitives have been returned to the United States since June.
On June 4, the authority launched a list of most wanted fraudsters to help find suspects in major financial crimes who have fled the country. Escoe was added to the list on June 8 and was arrested less than two months later.
The Justice Department said the case is also part of the work of its newly established National Fraud Enforcement Unit, which was created in April to investigate and prosecute fraud involving taxpayer-funded federal benefit programs.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said those accused of using pandemic relief programs would be prosecuted “no matter how long it takes or where they try to hide.”
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Miami Resident Agency in West Palm Beach with assistance from Miami Homeland Security Investigations and the Palm Beach County District Attorney’s Office.
