Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa Arrested on Fraud Charges

Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa was arrested and charged with grand theft and organized scheme to defraud, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced October 21, as state officials alleged she and family members benefited from city business grants. The charges are allegations; Espinosa’s lawyer says she maintains her innocence. At an Orlando news conference, Uthmeier said seven businesses operating at properties owned or managed by Espinosa’s family received a combined $90,000 through Kissimmee’s Business Boost 2.0 program. He said $50,000 went to three businesses associated with Espinosa and her family, while $40,000 went to tenants at the properties. Those figures and the account of the alleged conduct were presented by state officials. Investigators allege Espinosa and relatives applied for grants after the program opened in September 2025, and that the money was deposited into family-linked accounts in November. Officials further allege that Espinosa sought to change the application process and reduce oversight. According to investigators, the city attorney warned her on December 5, 2025, that accepting the grants presented a prohibited conflict of interest and...