Woman on the run after being accused of stealing more than $34 million in COVID-19 relief funds, police say
Florida woman on the run after being accused of stealing more than $34 million in COVID-19 relief funds, police say
The FBI Miami Field Office said it’s searching for Elaine Angene Escoe, 40, who is accused of masterminding a $34 million fraud scheme targeting federal COVID-19 relief programs.
According to investigators, Escoe allegedly submitted more than 90 fraudulent applications between May 2020 and November 2021, siphoning millions from programs including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), and Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG). Authorities say she used false payroll data, inflated employee counts, and fabricated revenue figures to secure the funds.
Escoe was last seen in Palm Beach County on June 3, just days before she failed to appear for a scheduled court hearing on June 5, according to the news release. A federal arrest warrant was issued shortly after.
Federal agents believe Escoe may have fled the area and could be in Jamaica, where she has known ties. She is described as 5’4″, 140 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes, and multiple tattoos. She has used aliases including “Annie” and “Annie Palmer.”
The counts against her include:
- Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- Conspiracy to commit money laundering
- Wire fraud
- Concealment of money laundering
- Transactional money laundering
Tarras said the COVID-19 money was meant to help those hit hard by the pandemic – not to be misused for personal gain.
“A lot of people were really hurt,” he said. “People were dying during COVID and those people maybe could’ve used that money to keep their businesses alive, that money wasn’t available.”
