EXCLUSIVE: Alleged $32M COVID-19 fraud fugitive captured in Jamaica and returned to US, FBI says

FIRST ON FOX: One of nan FBI's astir wanted alleged COVID-19 fraud fugitives has been returned to nan United States aft authorities captured her successful Jamaica, wherever FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News Digital she had been surviving nether nan clone personality "Harley Newman" while evading charges tied to a $32 cardinal pandemic alleviation fraud scheme.

Elaine Angene Escoe, 41, arrived backmost successful South Florida Thursday aft Jamaican authorities arrested her pursuing a national manhunt. Prosecutors allege she helped fraudulently get much than $32 cardinal successful taxpayer-funded COVID-19 alleviation costs earlier fleeing nan state aft failing to look successful national court.

Escoe was indicted successful 2025 connected charges including conspiracy to perpetrate ligament fraud, ligament fraud, conspiracy to perpetrate money laundering and aggregate counts of money laundering, according to nan U.S. Attorney's Office for nan Southern District of Florida.

EXCLUSIVE: FBI ADDS ALLEGED COVID FRAUDSTER ACCUSED OF TAKING $5M FROM KIDS' MEAL PROGRAM TO MOST WANTED LIST

Elaine Angene Escoe is accused of participating successful a strategy that allegedly defrauded national COVID-19 alleviation programs of much than $32 million. Authorities opportunity she was returned to nan United States aft being captured successful Jamaica. (Federal Bureau of Investigation)

Federal prosecutors said a judge issued an apprehension warrant aft Escoe grounded to look successful tribunal successful May 2025. Authorities allege she fled to Jamaica, wherever she was later located and arrested aft nan FBI received a tip.

"Elaine Angene Escoe's apprehension and return to nan United States demonstrates that nary 1 is beyond nan scope of American justice," Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said.

Blanche said Escoe is accused of participating successful a multimillion-dollar strategy to defraud taxpayer-funded COVID-19 alleviation programs and said nan Justice Department will proceed prosecuting those who bargain from nan American people.

FBI NABS ALLEGED $547M MEDICARE FRAUD FUGITIVE OVERSEAS, THIRD CAPTURE FROM 'MOST WANTED FRAUDSTERS' LIST

A much caller FBI-provided image of Elaine Angene Escoe, who authorities opportunity was arrested successful Jamaica aft allegedly fleeing nan United States while facing national fraud charges. (Federal Bureau of Investigation)

Patel called Escoe's apprehension different milestone successful nan FBI's world fraud crackdown, saying she is nan 4th alleged "Most Wanted Fraudster" captured successful nan past 5 weeks.

"The historical occurrence of nan 'Most Wanted Fraudster' database continues arsenic nan FBI and our partners conscionable captured our 4th Most Wanted Fraudster successful 5 weeks, and yet different precocious worth target returned to nan U.S. by this FBI," Patel said. "Elaine Angene Escoe, connected nan tally since May 2025, was captured successful Jamaica while surviving nether a clone personality of 'Harley Newman' — and returned to nan United States coming to look justice."

Patel said Escoe is charged pinch being progressive successful a conspiracy to perpetrate ligament fraud and money laundering connected to a strategy that fraudulently obtained much than $32 cardinal successful national COVID-19 alleviation funds.

He added that nan FBI has returned much than 30 high-value targets to nan U.S. since June. Patel said 4 alleged fraud suspects captured complete nan past 5 weeks are collectively charged pinch astir $1.8 cardinal successful fraud aft spending much than 3,500 days connected nan tally crossed 3 continents.

FILE - FBI Director Kash Patel said Escoe's apprehension marks nan 4th alleged "Most Wanted Fraudster" captured successful nan past 5 weeks. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

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"Under this administration, fraud is nary longer tolerated — and those who bargain from American taxpayers person obscurity to hide," Patel said.

Authorities said nan FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, nan U.S. Marshals Service, Jamaican rule enforcement and nan Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office coordinated Escoe's return to nan U.S.