Who is Elaine Angene Escoe? FBI names her among its most wanted fraud suspects, offers $150,000 reward in alleged $32 million COVID-19 relief scam

The FBI has launched a manhunt for Elaine Angene Escoe, a woman accused of helping orchestrate a massive fraud scheme that allegedly stole more than $32 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds.

Now considered one of the bureau's most wanted fraud suspects, Escoe is the subject of a federal arrest warrant, and investigators are offering up to $150,000 for information leading to her arrest and conviction.

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Authorities alleged she played a central role in submitting dozens of fraudulent pandemic relief applications before disappearing ahead of a scheduled court appearance.

Here's what to know about Elaine Angene Escoe, the charges against her, and why the FBI is asking the public for help.

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Who is Elaine Angene Escoe?

According to the FBI, Elaine Angene Escoe is a 40-year-old woman from Jamaica who is wanted on multiple federal charges tied to an alleged COVID-19 relief fraud scheme.

Investigators say she is also known by the aliases "Annie" and "Annie Palmer."

Escoe is described as:

• Height: 5 feet 4 inches
• Weight: About 140 pounds
• Hair: Black
• Eyes: Brown

The FBI believes she should be considered a flight risk after she allegedly failed to appear in federal court.

Why is Elaine Angene Escoe wanted by the FBI?

Federal prosecutors accuse Escoe of participating in a conspiracy that fraudulently obtained more than $32 million from several U.S. pandemic relief programs between May 2020 and November 2021.



According to investigators, the group allegedly submitted more than 90 fraudulent applications using false information about employee numbers, payroll costs and business revenue.

The applications targeted multiple federal relief programs, including:

• Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
• Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)
• Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF)
• Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG)

Authorities say the applications falsely claimed businesses qualified for millions of dollars in emergency pandemic assistance.

How much money was allegedly stolen?

The FBI alleges the conspiracy resulted in the wrongful distribution of millions of taxpayer dollars. According to investigators, the alleged fraud included:

• Approximately $29.1 million from the Paycheck Protection Program
• About $1.2 million from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund
• Roughly $3.8 million from the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program

Combined, the alleged scheme exceeded $32 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding.

What did investigators say happened to the money?

After the funds were received, prosecutors allege Escoe and her co-conspirators moved the money through various businesses and personal accounts to hide its origin.

According to the FBI, they allegedly:

• Transferred money among businesses they controlled
• Sent payments to one another
• Withdrew large amounts of cash
• Used blank signed checks to disguise the source of the funds

Investigators say these actions were designed to conceal proceeds obtained through the alleged fraud.

What charges does Elaine Angene Escoe face?

A federal arrest warrant was issued for Escoe on May 22, 2025, by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in West Palm Beach.

She faces several federal charges, including:

• Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
• Wire fraud
• Conspiracy to commit money laundering
• Concealment money laundering
• Transactional money laundering

Authorities say she was notified of a scheduled court appearance on June 5, 2025, but did not appear. The FBI says Escoe was last seen on June 3, 2025, in Palm Beach County, Florida.

FBI offers $150,000 reward

The FBI is offering up to $150,000 for information leading directly to Elaine Angene Escoe's arrest and conviction.

Anyone with information about her whereabouts is encouraged to contact the FBI through its official tip line or submit information online through the bureau's official tip portal.

Authorities continue to warn that Escoe should be considered a flight risk until she is taken into custody.

As investigators continue searching for the 40-year-old suspect, the case remains one of the FBI's highest-profile efforts involving alleged fraud tied to federal COVID-19 relief programs.