KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa was arrested Wednesday morning and is being charged with grand theft and organized scheme to defraud, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced on social media.
“This morning, we arrested Kissimmee mayor Jackie Espinosa and are charging her with Grand Theft and Organized Scheme to Defraud,” Uthmeier wrote.
Espinosa was pulled over shortly after 8 a.m. as she drove away from her home. She was asked to step out of the vehicle and was placed in handcuffs, according to WFTV, which reported it had been looking into an ongoing Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation involving the mayor.
Uthmeier said a news conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Attorney General’s Orlando office, where Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia and the commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement are expected to provide additional details. State officials have not yet publicly released the specific allegations underlying the charges.
Months of scrutiny over COVID relief grants
The arrest follows months of scrutiny over the city’s BOOST 2.0 grant program, which used federal COVID-19 relief money to assist Kissimmee businesses. It has not been confirmed whether Wednesday’s charges are connected to that program.
In July, court-appointed Special Prosecutor Mayanne Downs concluded there was “clear probable cause” to file articles of impeachment against Espinosa over $50,000 in grants awarded to businesses owned by her or her family. Downs also recommended the city consider referring the matter to law enforcement, and her report recommended forwarding the findings to the Florida Commission on Ethics and FDLE.
According to Around Osceola, three companies owned or operated by Espinosa’s husband and children received the $50,000 out of roughly $775,000 paid to about 70 businesses. Downs argued that Espinosa participated in commission actions funding and expanding the program without disclosing her financial interests.
On Aug. 18, the Kissimmee City Commission deadlocked 2-2 on whether to begin an impeachment trial, meaning the effort failed. Espinosa did not vote on the matter. Her attorney, Migdalia Perez, argued the Florida Commission on Ethics, not a locally appointed special prosecutor, had authority over the issue, and said Espinosa was prepared to return the grant money if the state ethics panel required it.
In early September, the Florida Commission on Ethics found probable cause that Espinosa violated state ethics law by maintaining a prohibited contractual relationship with an entity doing business with the city after her business accepted grant money the city administered. The commission stressed that a probable cause finding is not a determination that a violation occurred. In a separate complaint, the commission found no probable cause that she failed to properly disclose a gift worth more than $100.
Following that finding, Espinosa said in a livestream that she planned to request a public hearing and had a list of 10 witnesses she wanted to call.
In August, a political consultant who has supported Espinosa, identified as Fetzer, was arrested on a misdemeanor perjury charge tied to a notarized complaint he filed seeking the impeachment of City Commissioner Janette Martinez.
Espinosa was elected mayor in 2024 after previously running for the post in 2020 and for the Osceola County Commission in 2022.
Criminal charges are accusations. Espinosa is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Criminal Defense
Bankruptcy · Evictions
WICKS LAW P.A.
Call or text for
free consult
321-733-2700
Eric Wicks, Esq.
1250 West Eau Gallie Blvd. G
Melbourne, FL 32935
Abogado Wicks habla español
