A Jamaican woman has been added to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Most Wanted Fraudsters List for her alleged involvement in a scheme to steal millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds.

According to an FBI wanted bulletin, Elaine Angene Escoe and five co-defendants allegedly submitted more than 90 fraudulent applications for funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), Restaurant Revitalisation Fund (RRF), and Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) between May 2020 and November 2021.

The applications allegedly contained false information about employee numbers, payroll expenses and business revenues.

The FBI said the scheme resulted in the wrongful disbursement of approximately US$29.1 million in PPP funds, US$1.2 million in RRF funds and US$3.8 million in SVOG funds.

“After the funds were disbursed, Escoe and others allegedly directed payments to each other and to businesses they controlled, withdrew large sums in cash, and used blank, signed checks to conceal the origin and nature of the proceeds,” the FBI said.

A federal arrest warrant was issued for Escoe on May 22, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, West Palm Beach, after she was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, wire fraud, concealment money laundering and transactional money laundering.

The FBI said Escoe was notified of a scheduled court appearance on June 5, 2025, but failed to appear.

She was last seen on June 3, 2025, in Palm Beach County, Florida.

The 41 year old is considered a flight risk. 

The FBI is urging any information with information on her whereabouts to contact their Toll-Free tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), the local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate. 

A tip can also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov.

A reward of up to $150,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Escoe.