Florida woman accused of pandemic relief fraud is now wanted by the FBI after investigators say she played a central role in a scheme that stole millions of dollars from federal programs. Authorities have identified the suspect as Elaine Angene Escoe, 40, who is believed to have conspired with others to file more than 90 fraudulent applications for COVID-19 aid between May 2020 and November 2021.
According to investigators, the fraudulent claims allowed her to access programs designed to help businesses survive the pandemic, including the Paycheck Protection Program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loans, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, and the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant. The FBI reports that the group exaggerated employee numbers, payroll expenses, and business revenues in order to qualify for aid that they were not entitled to receive.
The effort led to the release of a massive sum of taxpayer money. Records show that around 29.1 million dollars was obtained through the Paycheck Protection Program, about 1.2 million dollars through the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, and nearly 3.8 million dollars through the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant. Once the money was secured, officials say Escoe and her associates funneled payments between one another’s businesses, withdrew large amounts of cash, and used signed blank checks to disguise where the money was coming from.
A federal warrant for Escoe’s arrest was issued on May 22. She has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, wire fraud, concealment money laundering, and transactional money laundering. Court documents state that she was scheduled to appear before a judge on June 5 but failed to show up. She was last seen on June 3 in Palm Beach County, Florida.
The FBI also revealed that Escoe is originally from Jamaica and has gone by the names Annie and Annie Palmer. Officials are urging anyone with information about her location to come forward.
