“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.
