Fugitive in $32M COVID-19 Fraud Scheme Nabbed in Jamaica

WHO:

NY Post - Elaine Angene Escoe, 41, is the fugitive arrested.

Fox News - Colin McDonald is the fraud czar and assistant attorney general for the Fraud Division.

Fox News - Kash Patel is the FBI Director.

Fox News - Todd Blanche is the Acting Attorney General.

WHAT:

NY Post - Escoe was arrested following a federal manhunt.

Fox News - Escoe is accused of helping fraudulently obtain more than $32 million in taxpayer-funded COVID-19 relief funds.

Fox News - Escoe was indicted in 2025 on charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and multiple counts of money laundering.

Fox News - A judge issued an arrest warrant for Escoe after she failed to appear in court in May 2025.

Fox News - Escoe was living under the fake identity "Harley Newman" while evading charges.

WHERE:

NY Post - Escoe was arrested in Jamaica.

Fox News - Escoe arrived back in South Florida after her arrest.

WHEN:

Fox News - Escoe was indicted in 2025.

Fox News - A judge issued an arrest warrant for Escoe in May 2025.

Fox News - Escoe was captured in Jamaica and returned to the United States on a Thursday.

WHY:

Fox News - Escoe is accused of participating in a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud taxpayer-funded COVID-19 relief programs.

HOW:

Fox News - The FBI received a tip that led to Escoe's arrest in Jamaica.

Fox News - Authorities coordinated Escoe's return to the U.S. involving the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, Jamaican law enforcement, and the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office.

(UPDATED July 26, 2026 02:49 UTC)

Elaine Angene Escoe, a 41-year-old fugitive, has been arrested in Jamaica following a federal manhunt for her alleged role in a scheme to fraudulently obtain over $32 million in taxpayer-funded COVID-19 relief funds. Escoe, who was living under the fake identity "Harley Newman," had been indicted in 2025 on multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, and a judge issued an arrest warrant for her after she failed to appear in court in May 2025. The FBI received a tip that led to her capture, and authorities coordinated her return to the U.S. with the help of several agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Marshals Service.