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A woman on the FBI's Most Wanted Fraudsters list has been extradited from Jamaica to the United States after allegedly spending months on the run under a fake identity, FBI Director Kash Patel said.According to the US Department of Justice, Elaine Angene Escoe, 41, arrived in South Florida on Thursday after Jamaican authorities arrested her following a federal manhunt.Prosecutors allege she helped orchestrate a scheme that fraudulently obtained more than $32 million in taxpayer-funded Covid-19 relief funds before fleeing the US 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.
Allegedly used fake identity in Jamaica
According to the US Department of Justice, Escoe fled to Jamaica after a federal arrest warrant was issued in May 2025.Authorities say she lived under the alias "Harley Newman" before investigators tracked her down with the help of a tip received by the FBI.The alleged fraud involved applications for multiple pandemic-era federal relief programs, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.
Investigators allege Escoe and her co-conspirators submitted fraudulent applications supported by fake tax returns, fabricated bank records and other falsified financial documents to obtain relief funds.Some applications were allegedly filed for third parties in exchange for kickbacks of up to 50 per cent of the loan proceeds.
Kash Patel hails latest FBI arrest
Announcing the arrest, FBI Director Kash Patel said Escoe is the fourth alleged "Most Wanted Fraudster" captured in the past five weeks."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.He added that the FBI has brought back more than 30 high-value fugitives to the US since June and said the four fraud suspects arrested over the past five weeks are collectively accused of nearly $1.8 billion in fraud after spending more than 3,500 days on the run across three continents.
Other defendants already convicted
The Justice Department said Escoe is the last remaining defendant charged in the alleged scheme.Five co-defendants have already been convicted or pleaded guilty. Alfred Davis received a 235-month prison sentence, while others were sentenced to terms ranging from 42 to 87 months.Escoe is expected to face federal proceedings in the Southern District of Florida. Authorities said her return was coordinated by the FBI, US Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the US State Department and Jamaican law enforcement agencies.
