Elaine A. Escoe, Alfred L. Davis, Gino J. Jourdan, Cher L. Davis, Latoya T. Clark, and James G. McGhow have been indicted for their alleged involvement in a scheme to fraudulently obtain over $34 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds.
The indictment claims that from May 2020 through November 2021, the group submitted more than 90 false applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), and Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) funds. These applications reportedly included false information about employee numbers, payroll expenses, and business revenues, supported by falsified IRS tax documents and fabricated bank statements.
The alleged fraudulent activities resulted in the disbursement of approximately $29.1 million in PPP funds, $1.2 million in RRF funds, and $3.8 million in SVOG funds. The defendants are accused of directing these funds to each other and businesses they controlled while withdrawing large sums in cash and using blank signed checks to hide the origin of the money.
Each defendant faces charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, along with multiple counts of wire fraud and engaging in monetary transactions involving criminally derived property. If convicted, they could face up to 20 years for each wire fraud charge and up to 10 years for each money laundering charge.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida announced the indictments alongside Acting Special Agent Brett Skiles of FBI Miami and Acting Special Agent José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations Miami.
The investigation was conducted by FBI Miami’s West Palm Beach Resident Agency with assistance from HSI Miami. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Bailyn is prosecuting the case with support from Legal Administrative Specialist Matthew Neff on litigation technology.
It is important to note that an indictment is only an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
Further details can be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida or through related court documents under case number 25-cr-80076-AMC on the District Court’s website.
