Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa Arrested on Grand Theft and Fraud Charges
Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa was arrested Wednesday on grand theft and scheming to defraud charges, as announced by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, and is being held in the Osceola County Jail.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa was taken into custody on Wednesday morning, facing grand theft and scheming to defraud charges. The arrest stems from an ethics probe that determined she participated in official actions that funneled $50,000 of federal pandemic aid, through the Business Boost 2.0 grant program, to three businesses linked to her and her family. Special prosecutor Mayanne Downs' July report had found probable cause and recommended referral to law enforcement, and the Florida Commission on Ethics later found the same probable cause, planning a $2,000 penalty and public censure.
Espinosa, who survived a 2-2 impeachment vote, is being held at the Osceola County Jail; the attorney general will address reporters in Orlando alongside CFO Blaise Ingoglia and FDLE Commissioner Larry Keefe. In related developments, political consultant Jeremy Fetzer, closely associated with Espinosa, was arrested for perjury in a separate ethics case involving City Commissioner Janette Martinez.
Why it matters
The arrest highlights potential misuse of pandemic relief funds and raises questions about local government accountability.
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