Elaine Angene Escoe, a South Florida woman accused of participating in a multimillion-dollar COVID-19 relief fraud scheme, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges and requested a jury trial.
Escoe appeared in federal court on August 10 before Magistrate Judge Brandy Brentari Galler. She waived a formal reading of the indictment, entered a not-guilty plea and demanded a jury trial. The hearing lasted about seven minutes.
Authorities allege that Escoe and other defendants fraudulently obtained more than $32 million in federal pandemic relief funds through programs including the Paycheck Protection Program, Restaurant Revitalization Fund, Shuttered Venue Operators Grant and Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.
Prosecutors allege the group used fake tax documents, fabricated bank records and false business information to obtain the funds. Some applicants allegedly paid kickbacks of up to 50% of the money they received, while proceeds from the scheme were allegedly laundered among members of the group.
Escoe faces charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, concealment of money laundering and transactional money laundering.
She became a fugitive after failing to appear for a court proceeding in 2025. A federal arrest warrant was issued in May 2025, and she was later added to the FBI's Most Wanted Fraudsters list.
Authorities eventually located Escoe in Jamaica following a tip. Jamaican authorities arrested her before she was returned to South Florida in July to face prosecution.
The FBI had offered a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to her arrest and conviction.
Several other defendants connected to the alleged scheme have already pleaded guilty or been convicted. Prosecutors have described Escoe as the final remaining defendant in the case.
Her case will now proceed toward a jury trial, although no trial date had been announced as of August 10.
Escoe is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
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