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FIRST ON FOX: One of the FBI’s most wanted fugitives suspected of contracting COVID-19 has been returned to the United States after authorities captured him in Jamaica, where FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News Digital he was living under the fake identity “Harley Newman” while fleeing charges related to a $32 million pandemic fraud scheme.
Elaine Angene Escoe, 41, arrived in South Florida on Thursday after authorities in Jamaica arrested her following a federal manhunt. Prosecutors say he helped embezzle more than $32 million in taxpayer-funded COVID-19 relief funds before fleeing the country after failing to appear in federal court.
Escoe was indicted in 2025 on charges including conspiracy to defraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and multiple counts of money laundering, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
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Elaine Angene Escoe is accused of participating in a scheme that allegedly defrauded more than $32 million in COVID-19 aid programs. Authorities say he was extradited to the United States after being kidnapped in Jamaica. (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
Federal prosecutors said a judge issued the warrant after Escoe failed to appear in court in May 2025. Authorities say he fled to Jamaica, where he was later found and arrested after the FBI received a tip.
“The arrest and return of Elaine Angene Escoe to the United States shows that no one is beyond the reach of American justice,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Blanche said Escoe is accused of participating in a multibillion-dollar scheme to defraud taxpayer-funded COVID-19 relief programs and said the Justice Department will continue to prosecute those who steal from Americans.
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The latest photo provided by the FBI is of Elaine Angene Escoe, who authorities say was arrested in Jamaica after allegedly fleeing the United States while facing fraud charges. (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
Patel called Escoe’s arrest another landmark in the FBI’s international fraud operation, saying he was the fourth “Most Wanted Fraudster” arrested in the past five weeks.
“The historic success of the ‘Most Wanted Fraudster’ list continues as the FBI and our partners recently captured our fourth Most Wanted fraudster in 5 weeks, and another high-value target returned to the US by the FBI,” said Patel. “Elaine Angene Escoe, still on the run since May 2025, was kidnapped in Jamaica living under the false name ‘Harley Newman’ – and returned to the United States today to face justice.”
Patel said Escoe is accused of engaging in wire fraud and money laundering in connection with a scheme that fraudulently obtained more than $32 million in COVID-19 relief funds.
He added that the FBI has returned more than 30 high-value targets to the US since June. Patel said the four suspected fraudsters arrested in the past five weeks have been charged with embezzling an estimated $1.8 billion after spending more than 3,500 days on the run across three continents.
FILE – FBI Director Kash Patel said Escoe’s arrest is the fourth “Most Wanted Scam” suspect in the past five weeks. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
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“Under this administration, fraud will no longer be tolerated — and those who steal from the American taxpayer have nowhere to hide,” Patel said.
Authorities said the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the US Marshals Service, Jamaican law enforcement and the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s office coordinated Escoe’s return to the US.
