US says five jailed in US$32m COVID scam linked to Jamaican

Five people have already been convicted and sentenced in the massive US$32 million COVID-19 relief fraud case linked to Jamaican national Elaine Escoe, who was deported to the United States over the weekend to face charges as the alleged mastermind.

According to the US Department of Justice (DOJ), Escoe, 41, is the last remaining defendant in the sprawling fraud case, with her five alleged co-conspirators already convicted and serving prison sentences ranging from 46 months to more than 19 years.

The DOJ said Alfred Davis, Cher Davis and Latoya Clarke were found guilty by a federal jury last December for their roles in the scheme.

Alfred Davis was sentenced to 19 years and five months in prison, Cher Davis received seven years, while Clarke was sentenced to five years and eight months.

Two other defendants, Gino Jourdan and James McGhow, previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 46 months and 42 months, respectively.

According to US prosecutors, Escoe and her alleged co-conspirators submitted, or caused the submission of, fraudulent applications seeking more than US$32 million through several federal COVID-19 relief programmes, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Restaurant Revitalization Fund, Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, and Economic Injury Disaster Loan programme.

The DOJ alleged the applications falsely claimed the existence, payroll, revenue and operations of businesses to qualify for and maximise federal relief funding.

Investigators also claim the group created fake tax returns, fabricated bank records and other false financial documents to support the applications.

Authorities further allege that while some applications were submitted for businesses controlled by members of the conspiracy, others were filed on behalf of third parties in exchange for kickbacks of up to 50 per cent of the loan proceeds.

The fraud proceeds were allegedly laundered among the conspirators.

"Elaine Escoe allegedly helped orchestrate a sprawling scheme that fraudulently obtained more than US$32 million from programmes created to keep American businesses and workers afloat during the pandemic," said Jason Reding Quiñones, US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.

Escoe was indicted in 2025 on charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, wire fraud and money laundering.

US authorities said that after a federal arrest warrant was issued in May 2025, she failed to appear in court and fled to Jamaica.

She was deported to the United States on Saturday after being apprehended in Jamaica based on what the FBI described as a tip and information developed during the investigation.

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