FBI captures Jamaican woman in US$32m COVID fraud case as police report fatal Manchester shootout

A 41-year-old Jamaican woman sought by the Federal Bureau of Investigation over an alleged US$32 million COVID-19 relief fraud has been arrested in Jamaica and extradited to the United States, while police separately reported a fatal weekend shootout in Manchester and several other crime developments islandwide.

Stelin Andrene Escoe, who appeared on the FBI's Most Wanted list, was taken into custody in a coordinated operation involving the FBI, the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Jamaica Fugitive Apprehension Team, officials said. A reward of US$150,000 had been offered for information leading to her capture. The FBI said she was last seen in Palm Beach County on June 3, 2025, and was due in court two days later but did not appear. A federal arrest warrant was issued on May 22, 2025. She faces charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and transnational money laundering.

In Manchester, police identified Lester Morris, Travis Baker and Sutanya Booth, also known as Chun Chun, as the three people fatally shot during an alleged confrontation on Caledonia Road in Mandeville on Saturday afternoon. Officers said they were alerted to a robbery spree at about 4:00 p.m. and intercepted a getaway vehicle near Allshire Curve. A senior police source said occupants opened fire on police, who returned fire, leading to a prolonged standoff and running gun battle. Morris and Baker were removed from the vehicle and pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. Two firearms were seized.

In Hanover, police charged 21-year-old construction worker Andrew Hemans with the alleged rape of a young girl. Officers said that about 11:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 12, Hemans entered a dwelling, pulled the child into a room and sexually assaulted her. A family member reportedly interrupted the attack and raised an alarm. Hemans was taken into custody on Tuesday, July 21, positively identified in an identification parade and charged. He is due before the Lucea Parish Court on Monday, July 27.

Also on Saturday, July 25, two men were arrested after a Glock 21 .45-calibre pistol and a magazine with six .45-calibre cartridges were found during a joint police-military operation at the intersection of Third Street and Third Avenue in Greenwich Town, St. Andrew. Hunts Bay police said that about 10:45 p.m. a vehicle was stopped and both occupants searched; the weapon and ammunition were found in one man's possession. Their names have not been released.

Detectives in the St. Andrew North Police Division charged 25-year-old taxi operator Audie Kinglock of Lizard District, Stony Hill, with robbery with aggravation, possession of a prohibited weapon and assault at common law. Police said that about 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 19, Kinglock and masked accomplices confronted patrons at a bar, pointed a gun at them, stole their belongings and fled on foot. He was arrested on Wednesday, July 22, and charged on Friday, July 24, after a question-and-answer session with his attorney present. A court date is being arranged.

Separately, a fire broke out in a barrack building at Up Park Camp, the Jamaica Defence Force headquarters in St. Andrew, at about 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. The JDF said its fire unit and the Jamaica Fire Brigade contained the blaze by about 3:30 p.m. The cause remains unknown. The force said it was the second fire at the camp in recent weeks, after living quarters were destroyed in June.