South Florida woman makes FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudster list

PALM BEACH COUNTY — The FBI is offering a reward of up to $150,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of a South Florida woman who has made the agency’s Most Wanted Fraudster list.

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According to a press release from the FBI Miami Division, “Elaine Escoe is one of the first eight fugitives to make the FBI’s new Most Wanted Fraudster list that was announced by Director Kash Patel on June 4.”

An arrest warrant was issued for Escoe, of Palm Beach County, on May 22, 2025 after she was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, wire fraud, concealment money laundering and transactional money laundering.

According to the FBI, Escoe, who has ties to Jamaica, and five co-defendants – all of whom have either been found guilty or pleaded guilty – submitted more than 90 fraudulent applications for funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Authorities said she and her co-defendants obtained more than $32 million in COVID relief funds.

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“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,” an FBI flyer stated.

According to the FBI, Escoe was notified about a court hearing she had for June 5, 2025, but she never showed up for it.

Agents said she was last seen on June 3, 2025, in Palm Beach County.

Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call the FBI’s tip line at 1-800-225-5324.

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