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A Jamaican woman is accused of stealing millions in a COVID-19 funds scam, prompting a federal manhunt across Florida.

 According to the FBI, investigators say Elaine Angene Escoe, also known as “Annie” or “Annie Palmer,” orchestrated a massive money laundering scheme that funneled more than $34 million in U.S. federal COVID-19 relief funds.

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Fraudulent Relief Fund Applications

Between May 2020 and November 2021, Escoe and her co-conspirators allegedly submitted over 990 fraudulent applications for federal assistance programs, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL), the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), and the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG).

The FBI reported that these applications contained false information about payroll, employee counts, and business revenues. As a result, the group wrongfully obtained $29.1 million in PPP funds, $1.2 million in RRF funds, and $3.8 million in SVOG funds.

“These funds were intended to help struggling businesses survive the pandemic, but instead were exploited through deception,” the FBI said in its wanted notice.

Allegations of Money Laundering

Once the fraudulent funds were disbursed, investigators say Escoe and her associates directed payments to businesses they controlled, withdrew large sums of cash, and used blank, signed checks to obscure the money trail. The FBI believes these methods were intended to conceal the origin and true ownership of the illicit proceeds.

Escoe now faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, wire fraud, and transactional money laundering. A federal arrest warrant was issued on May 22, 2025, by the U.S. District Court in West Palm Beach, Florida.

FBI Seeks Public’s Help

Elaine Angene Escoe was last seen on June 3, 2025, in Palm Beach County, Florida. She is described as 5’4”, 140 pounds, with brown eyes and several tattoos, including on her left wrist, abdomen, back, and right shoulder.

The FBI has warned that she should be considered a flight risk. Anyone with information is urged to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit tips at tips.fbi.gov.

In Jamaican culture, the alias “Annie Palmer” carries strong associations with folklore figures tied to crime and infamy—a connection that investigators note may have influenced Escoe’s choice of identity.

For more details, see coverage:

Jamaican woman wanted by FBI in US$34 million COVID relief funds scam - Jamaica Observer

Palm Beach manhunt: Jamaican woman wanted by FBI in $34M COVID relief scam - CNW Network.