South Florida Woman Arrested in Jamaica Over $32M COVID Relief Fraud Scheme

Elaine Escoe, on the FBI's Most Wanted Fraudsters list, was arrested in Jamaica and extradited to the US to face charges in a $32M COVID relief fraud case.

FBI Most Wanted Fraudster Extradited from Jamaica to Face $32M COVID Fund Charges

A South Florida woman listed among the FBI's "Most Wanted Fraudsters" has been arrested in Jamaica and returned to the United States, fox35orlando.com reports, citing the U.S. Department of Justice.

Elaine Escoe faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, wire fraud, and money laundering. She appeared in a South Florida federal court on Monday, entered a not guilty plea, and requested a jury trial, according to online court records.

The DOJ indicted Escoe in 2025. Following the issuance of a federal arrest warrant, she failed to appear in court and fled to Jamaica. Acting on a tip, detectives and partner agencies located Escoe in Jamaica in July and transported her back to South Florida.

According to the DOJ, Escoe and alleged co-conspirators submitted — or assisted in submitting — fraudulent applications totalling more than $32 million across multiple COVID-19 relief programmes, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG), and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programme.

"The applications falsely represented the existence, payroll, revenue, and operations of purported businesses to qualify for and maximize federal relief funding," the DOJ said.

To support the false claims, conspirators manufactured fake tax documents, fabricated bank records, and other counterfeit financial materials that lenders and programme administrators relied upon when approving loans and grants. Some applications were filed on behalf of businesses controlled by the conspirators themselves; others were submitted for third parties in return for kickbacks of up to 50% of the loan proceeds. The DOJ said the fraud proceeds were subsequently laundered among the group.

Escoe is described by the DOJ as the final defendant connected to the scheme to be charged. Five others have already been convicted or pleaded guilty.

Alfred Davis and Cher Davis, along with Latoya Clark, were convicted by a federal jury. James McGhow and Gino Jourdan each pleaded guilty. Alfred Davis received a sentence of 19.5 years in prison; Cher Davis was sentenced to seven years; Clark received five years. Jourdan and McGhow were each sentenced to three years in prison, the DOJ said.

Source: Google News JM — Crime