Woman accused of $32 million pandemic loan fraud extradited from Jamaica

Elaine Escoe, 41, was returned to the Southern District of Florida on Saturday to face federal charges connected to a scheme that allegedly fraudulently obtained more than $32 million in COVID-19 relief funds, according to the Department of Justice. Escoe, who was named to the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters List, was charged by indictment in 2025 with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and multiple substantive counts of wire fraud and money laundering, prosecutors said.

After a federal arrest warrant was issued in May 2025, Escoe failed to appear for a scheduled court appearance and fled to Jamaica, according to the Justice Department. Acting on information developed by the FBI, Jamaican authorities captured her after receiving a tip, officials said. She was living under the false identity “Harley Newman” at the time of her arrest, FBI Director Kash Patel said. Escoe was returned to South Florida through a coordinated effort involving the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, the Jamaican Constabulary Force and its Jamaica Fugitive Apprehension Team, the department said.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Escoe “allegedly obtained tens of millions in COVID-19 relief, stealing critical resources from legitimate businesses during a national crisis.” Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division said Escoe’s arrest and return demonstrate that “no one is beyond the reach of American justice.” Patel said Escoe was the fourth Most Wanted Fraudster captured in five weeks, bringing the number of high-value targets returned by the FBI to more than 30 since June.

According to court records, Escoe and her co-conspirators allegedly submitted or caused the submission of fraudulent applications seeking more than $32 million through the Paycheck Protection Program, Restaurant Revitalization Fund, Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. The applications falsely represented the existence, payroll, revenue and operations of purported businesses, prosecutors said. The conspirators allegedly created fake tax documents, fabricated bank records and other false financial records to support the applications. Some applications were filed for third parties in exchange for kickbacks of as much as 50% of the loan proceeds, according to the indictment. The proceeds were subsequently laundered among the conspirators, the department said.

Escoe is the last remaining defendant charged in the scheme, according to the Justice Department. Following a December 2025 trial, Alfred Davis, Cher Davis and Latoya Clark were convicted by a federal jury, while James McGhow and Gino Jourdan previously pleaded guilty. Alfred Davis was sentenced to 235 months in prison, Cher Davis to 87 months, Clark to 70 months, Jourdan to 46 months and McGhow to 42 months.

FBI Miami’s West Palm Beach Resident Agency is investigating the case with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations Miami and the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office.