EXCLUSIVE: Alleged $32M COVID-19 fraud fugitive captured in Jamaica and returned to US, FBI says
FIRST ON FOX: One of the FBI's most wanted alleged COVID-19 fraud fugitives has been returned to the United States after authorities captured her in Jamaica, where FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News Digital she had been living under the fake identity "Harley Newman" while evading charges tied to a $32 million pandemic relief fraud scheme.
Elaine Angene Escoe, 41, arrived back in South Florida Thursday after Jamaican authorities arrested her following a federal manhunt. Prosecutors allege she helped fraudulently obtain more than $32 million in taxpayer-funded COVID-19 relief funds before fleeing the country after failing to appear in federal court.
Escoe was indicted in 2025 on charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and multiple counts of money laundering, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida.
Federal prosecutors said a judge issued an arrest warrant after Escoe failed to appear in court in May 2025. Authorities allege she fled to Jamaica, where she was later located and arrested after the FBI received a tip.
"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 told Fox News Digital.
"She fled the country believing she could escape justice but ultimately could not," he continued. "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."
Patel called Escoe's arrest another milestone in the FBI's international fraud crackdown, saying she is the fourth alleged "Most Wanted Fraudster" captured in the past five weeks.
"The historic success of the 'Most Wanted Fraudster' list continues as the FBI and our partners just captured our fourth Most Wanted Fraudster in 5 weeks, and yet another high value target returned to the U.S. by this FBI," Patel said. "Elaine Angene Escoe, on the run since May 2025, was captured in Jamaica while living under a fake identity of 'Harley Newman' — and returned to the United States today to face justice."
Patel said Escoe is charged with being involved in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering connected to a scheme that fraudulently obtained more than $32 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds.
He added that the FBI has returned more than 30 high-value targets to the U.S. since June. Patel said four alleged fraud suspects captured over the past five weeks are collectively charged with nearly $1.8 billion in fraud after spending more than 3,500 days on the run across three continents.
"Under this administration, fraud is no longer tolerated — and those who steal from American taxpayers have nowhere to hide," Patel said.
Authorities said the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, Jamaican law enforcement and the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office coordinated Escoe's return to the U.S.