The FBI has made a major arrest tied to the massive taxpayer-funded COVID-19 fraud that has proliferated throughout America.
As Fox News reported, Jamaican authorities captured 41-year-old Elaine Angene Escoe after catching her living under a fake name “Harley Newman.” Escoe had been avoiding charges tied to a $32 million pandemic relief fraud scheme.
Escoe returned to South Florida on Thursday after being arrested in the manhunt.
More from Fox News on the case, which began 2025:
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.
Escoe is the fourth “Most Wanted Fraudster” captured in the past five weeks as part of the FBI’s international fraud crackdown.
FBI Director Kash Patel released the following statement following Escoe’s arrest:
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 the FBI.
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.
Under this administration, fraud is no longer tolerated — and those who steal from American taxpayers have nowhere to hide.
Patel also confirmed that Escoe has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.
Fox News revealed that the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, Jamaican law enforcement, and the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office all joined in coordinating Escoe’s return to the U.S.
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