Fugitive in $32 million COVID-19 fraud scheme extradited to U.S.

Elaine Escoe, a fugitive on the FBI's Most Wanted Fraudsters List, has been returned to the Southern District of Florida from Jamaica. She faces federal charges for her alleged involvement in a scheme that fraudulently obtained over $32 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds. Escoe was indicted in 2025 on multiple counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.