Federal authorities have arrested Elaine Angene Escoe, a 41‑year‑old woman linked to a large taxpayer‑funded COVID‑19 relief fraud scheme.
Escoe was detained in Jamaica after authorities discovered she was living under the alias “Harley Newman.” She had fled the United States following a failed court appearance in May.
The fraud allegations center on a $32 million scheme that siphoned pandemic relief funds from federal programs.
She faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and multiple counts of money laundering.
An arrest warrant was issued after Escoe failed to appear at a scheduled federal court hearing.
The capture is part of an ongoing FBI initiative that has identified and seized four “Most Wanted Fraudsters” in the past five weeks.
Officials highlighted the operation’s success, noting that a high‑value target has returned to the United States for prosecution.
Escoe will now be arraigned and face the charges that led to her extradition from Jamaica.
The operation involved coordination among the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, Jamaican law enforcement, and the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office.
The case underscores a renewed commitment to holding individuals accountable for fraud that drains public resources.
