A suspect accused of orchestrating a scheme to fraudulently obtain over $32 million in COVID-19 relief funds has been arrested in Jamaica and returned to the United States to face federal charges.
Elaine Angene Escoe, 41, was apprehended in Jamaica after being on the run since May 2025, according to the FBI. She arrived in South Florida on Thursday following her arrest. Prosecutors allege Escoe, who was living under the fake identity “Harley Newman,” played a role in fraudulently acquiring taxpayer-funded pandemic relief funds before failing to appear in federal court and subsequently fleeing the country.
Escoe was indicted in 2025 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida on charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and multiple counts of money laundering. A judge issued an arrest warrant after she missed a court appearance in May 2025.
The FBI has been pursuing Escoe as part of its efforts to track down fugitives involved in financial crimes. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that Escoe's alleged actions involved stealing critical resources from legitimate businesses during a national crisis. He emphasized that the Department of Justice is committed to holding accountable those who exploit taxpayer-funded programs, regardless of where they attempt to hide.
FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted Escoe's capture as a significant development in the bureau's international fraud crackdown. Patel noted that she is the fourth alleged “Most Wanted Fraudster” to be apprehended in the past five weeks. Since June, the FBI has returned more than 30 high-value targets to the U.S. The four fraud suspects captured in the last five weeks are collectively accused of nearly $1.8 billion in fraud and had been fugitives for over 3,500 days combined across three continents.
The operation to locate and apprehend Escoe involved a coordinated effort between the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, Jamaican law enforcement, and the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office. Patel stated that the successful extradition signifies that those who steal from American taxpayers have “nowhere to hide.”