The FBI is currently looking for a Florida woman, Elaine Angene Escoe, who’s accused of being involved in a massive fraud scheme tied to COVID-19 relief funds.
Escoe, 40, is believed to have played a key role in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, allegedly helping to steal more than $34 million in federal relief money.
According to investigators, between May 2020 and November 2021, Escoe and others reportedly submitted over 90 fake applications to programs like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), and Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG). The applications are said to have included false details about employee numbers, payroll costs, and business income.
Here’s the breakdown of the funds they’re accused of illegally getting:
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$29.1 million from PPP
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$1.2 million from RRF
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$3.8 million from SVOG
Once the money came in, authorities say the group moved it around—sending payments to each other, to businesses they controlled, and even withdrawing large amounts in cash. They also allegedly used blank, signed checks to try and hide where the money was really coming from.
A federal warrant was issued for Escoe’s arrest on May 22. She’s facing multiple charges, including:
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Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
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Conspiracy to commit money laundering
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Wire fraud
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Concealment and transactional money laundering
The case is still developing, and the FBI is actively trying to track her down.
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