One of the FBI’s most wanted alleged COVID-19 fraud fugitives has been returned to the United States after being apprehended in Jamaica. FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News Digital that she was living under the alias “Harley Newman” while evading charges related to a $32 million pandemic relief scam.
Elaine Angene Escoe, 41, returned to South Florida on Thursday after Jamaican authorities detained her during a federal manhunt.
Prosecutors say she helped fraudulently collect over $32 million in taxpayer-funded COVID-19 relief payments before fleeing the country after failing to appear in federal court.
Escoe was charged in 2025 with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and multiple counts of money laundering, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
According to federal prosecutors, Escoe failed to appear in court in May 2025, thus a judge issued him an arrest warrant.
Authorities said she escaped to Jamaica, where she was apprehended and arrested after the FBI received a tip.
“This Most Wanted Fraudster allegedly obtained tens of millions in COVID-19 relief, stealing critical resources from legitimate businesses during a national crisis,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to Fox News Digital.
“She fled the country believing she could escape justice but ultimately could not,” he continued. “Those who exploit taxpayer-funded programs will be held accountable by this Department of Justice, no matter how long it takes or where they attempt to hide.”
Patel described Escoe’s arrest as another milestone in the FBI’s worldwide fraud investigation, claiming she is the fourth accused “Most Wanted Fraudster” apprehended in the last five weeks.
“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 US by this FBI,” Patel added. “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.”
According to Patel, Escoe is charged with conspiring to commit wire fraud and money laundering in connection with a scheme that falsely received more than $32 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding.
He noted that the FBI had returned more than 30 high-value targets to the United States since June.
According to Patel, four accused fraud suspects apprehended in the last five weeks have been charged with roughly $1.8 billion in fraud after fleeing across three continents for more than 3,500 days.
“Under this administration, fraud is no longer tolerated — and those who steal from American taxpayers have nowhere to hide,” Patel said.
According to authorities, Escoe’s return to the United States was managed by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the US Marshals Service, Jamaican law enforcement, and the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office.
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