A woman who made the FBI’s “Fraudsters Most Wanted” list for her alleged role in a $32 million Covid-19 relief fund fraud scheme was arrested in Jamaica and returned to South Florida to face federal charges.
Elaine Anjin Esko, 41, faces numerous charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, wire fraud, concealment of money laundering and transaction money laundering.
Jamaican authorities, acting on information received by the FBI, captured Esko after receiving a tip and then returned her to South Florida, according to federal investigators.
The FBI offered a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to her arrest and conviction.
Esko is one of the first eight fugitives on the new list announced by FBI Director Kash Patel back in June.
Esko was last seen in Palm Beach County on June 3, 2025, and was scheduled to appear in court two days later but never showed up, officials said. A federal warrant for her arrest was issued on May 22, 2025.
Esko and others allegedly submitted more than 90 fraudulent applications for funds from the Paycheck Protection Program, disaster loans, Restaurant Revitalization Fund and the Closed Venue Operators Grant between May 2020 and November 2021, officials said.
The statements allegedly contained false information about employee numbers, payroll expenses and business income.
This scheme resulted in the improper payment of approximately $29.1 million in PPP funds, $1.2 million in RRF funds, and $3.8 million in SVOG funds.
After disbursing the funds, Esko and others allegedly directed payments to each other and to businesses they controlled, withdrew large sums of cash, and used blank signed checks to disguise the origin and nature of the proceeds.
Esko was the last person charged in this scheme.
Following the 2025 trial, Alfred Davis, Cher Davis and LaToya Clark were convicted by a federal jury, while James McGaw and Gino Jourdan had previously pleaded guilty.
Davis was sentenced to 235 months in prison, Davis to 87 months, Clark to 70 months, Jourdan to 46 months and McGough to 42 months.