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FBI Most Wanted COVID-19 fraudster arrested and returned from Jamaica
Fox News • • nation
Key Points:
- Elaine Angene Escoe, wanted for her alleged role in a $32 million COVID-19 relief fraud scheme, was captured in Jamaica where she was living under the alias "Harley Newman" and has been returned to the U.S. to face charges.
- Escoe was indicted in 2025 on multiple counts including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, and fled after failing to appear in federal court, prompting an international manhunt.
- FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted Escoe's arrest as part of a broader crackdown on fraud, marking the fourth capture from the FBI's "Most Wanted Fraudster" list in five weeks, with suspects collectively charged with nearly $1.8 billion in fraud.
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized that the Justice Department remains committed to prosecuting individuals who steal from taxpayer-funded programs, underscoring that no one is beyond the reach of American justice.
- The operation involved coordination among the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals, Jamaican law enforcement, and the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office.
