FBI returns Jamaican to South Florida over US$32m COVID relief fraud case

MIAMI – A 41-year-old Jamaican national named on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s most-wanted fraud roster has been sent back to the United States to answer federal charges tied to an alleged plot that secured more than US$32 million in COVID-19 relief money through deceit.

Elaine Escoe arrived in South Florida on Saturday from Jamaica. A 2025 indictment accused her of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and several separate counts of wire fraud and money laundering.

After authorities issued a federal arrest warrant in May 2025, Escoe did not show up for her scheduled court date and left for Jamaica, reports say. Building on leads from the FBI, Jamaican police later took her into custody following a tip.

Her transfer to South Florida on Saturday came through joint work by the FBI, the US Marshals Service, the US Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), and the JCF Jamaica Fugitive Apprehension Team.

“This most wanted fraudster allegedly obtained tens of millions in COVID-19 relief, stealing critical resources from legitimate businesses during a national crisis,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “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.”

“Elaine Angene Escoe’s arrest and return to the United States demonstrates that no one is beyond the reach of American justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “This most wanted fraudster faces charges stemming from a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud taxpayer-funded COVID-19 relief programs. The fraud division will continue to vigorously prosecute those who steal from the American people,” he added.

FBI Director Kash Patel said, “The historic success of the ‘Most Wanted Fraudster’ list continues as the FBI and our partners just captured our fourth most wanted fraudster in five weeks, and yet another high value target returned to the U.S. by this FBI”. He added that, “Elaine Angene Escoe, on the run since May of 2025, was captured in Jamaica while living under a fake identity of ‘Harley Newman’ – and returned to the United States today to face justice. She is charged for her alleged involvement in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering – connected with a scheme to fraudulently obtain over $32 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds. Escoe brings the number of high value targets returned by the FBI to over 30 just since June.”

Court filings state that Escoe and others in the plot filed, or arranged for others to file, false claims seeking more than US$32 million from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG), and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programmes.

Those filings misstated whether the businesses existed and how much they paid in wages, earned in revenue, and carried on day-to-day work, in order to qualify for and inflate the relief sums. To back the claims, the group is said to have produced forged tax papers, invented bank statements, and other bogus financial records that lenders and programme officials relied on when approving loans and grants.

Some of the paperwork covered firms controlled by the conspirators themselves. Other filings were lodged for outsiders who paid large kickbacks — in some cases half of the money received. The funds were then moved among the plotters in a bid to disguise their origin.

Escoe is the only defendant from the case still awaiting resolution of the charges. After a trial in December 2025, a federal jury found Alfred Davis, Cher Davis, and Latoya Clark guilty. James McGhow and Gino Jourdan had already entered guilty pleas. Alfred Davis received 235 months in prison; Cher Davis, 87 months; Clark, 70 months; Jourdan, 46 months; and McGhow, 42 months.