Kissimmee, Florida, Mayor Jackie Espinosa has been arrested, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Wednesday, Oct. 21. The politician was charged with grand theft and an organized scheme to defraud.
The case involves the city’s Business Boost 2.0 program, which provided assistance to small businesses after the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the attorney general, Espinosa submitted three applications on the day the program launched, in September 2025, seeking a combined $50,000 for herself and family members.
Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Blaise Ingoglia said a routine audit found that seven businesses operating in properties owned or managed by the mayor’s family received a total of $90,000. Of that, $50,000 went directly to Espinosa’s businesses and $40,000 to tenants of her properties. According to Ingoglia, she faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.
On Thursday, a court agreed to release Espinosa on $70,000 bail. The next pretrial hearing was set for Dec. 1.
This is not the mayor’s first trouble. In September, the state Ethics Commission reprimanded her and recommended a $2,000 fine in connection with the same funds. In August, she survived an impeachment attempt, with council members splitting 2-2 on the vote.
Espinosa’s defense attorney, Migdalia Perez, maintains that her client is innocent. She stresses that the program was publicly approved and run by city officials, and that prosecutors will have to prove criminal intent.
As of publication, Gov. Ron DeSantis had not suspended Espinosa from her duties. If he does, under the city charter Vice Mayor Angela Eady would take over as mayor. Espinosa is presumed innocent until a final verdict.
Source: Office of the Florida Attorney General, News 6 (ClickOrlando), Central Florida Public Media
Klaudiusz Nowak
Source: Słoneczne Radio
