South Florida woman added to FBI’s top fraudsters list.
The FBI has released a reward of up to $150,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of Elaine Escoe, a Palm Beach County resident. Escoe was added to the agency’s new Most Wanted Fraudster list on June 4, 2025, following her inclusion among the first eight fugitives named by FBI Director Kash Patel.
An arrest warrant was issued for Escoe on May 22, 2025. She faces charges that include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, wire fraud, concealment of money laundering, and transactional money laundering. The FBI notes that Escoe and five co-defendants, all of whom have either been found guilty or pleaded guilty, submitted over 90 fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program funds during the COVID‑19 pandemic.
Officials report that the defendants obtained more than $32 million in relief funds. After disbursement, the group allegedly routed payments among themselves and to businesses they controlled, withdrew large cash sums, and used blank, signed checks to hide the flow and source of the proceeds.
Escoe was scheduled for a court appearance on June 5, 2025, but did not attend. Her last known location was within Palm Beach County on June 3, 2025. The FBI requests tips regarding her whereabouts on its tip line at 1‑800‑225‑5324.