Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa Arrested Over COVID Relief Grant Fraud Allegations

Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa faces felony grand theft and organized scheme to defraud charges after state officials arrested her over allegations that she funneled $50,000 in federal COVID-19 relief funds to businesses connected to her family. Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigators reviewed records showing the mayor personally received grant money through Adanse LLC while pushing for the Business Boost 2.0 program.

Arrest Details And Charges Against Mayor Espinosa

Osceola County Jail records show that authorities booked Mayor Espinosa on Wednesday following an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the auditing division of the state’s Chief Financial Officer. CFO Blaise Ingoglia announced the arrest on X, stating that investigators uncovered the alleged misuse of taxpayer dollars. State prosecutors charged the mayor with one count of grand theft and one count of an organized scheme to defraud, both felonies. I am proud of the outstanding work that my auditing team and Criminal Investigations Division did to uncover the alleged misuse of taxpayer dollars and to ensure that Jackie Espinosa’s corruption did not go without recourse, Ingoglia wrote.

Attorney General James Uthmeier stated during a Wednesday press conference that city attorneys had previously warned the mayor against accepting the money. The mayor used her position to push a COVID relief grant program, then took $50,000 from it for her family’s businesses after being warned it was prohibited, Uthmeier said in a press release. Investigators maintained that her spouse was likewise barred from receiving funds due to his relationship with the mayor.

Grant Program Evolution And Public Meetings

The $1 million Business Boost 2.0 program was funded by the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act to stabilize businesses suffering lingering impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. Mayor Espinosa championed the initiative soon after taking office, publicly stating during a Dec. 17, 2024 meeting that initial financial offers fell short. Throughout 2025, she repeatedly urged city staff to streamline the application process and speed up disbursements. During a July 2025 meeting, she stated, City manager, I’d like for our Economic Development Director to kind of wrap up the Business Boost 2.0, while also remarking, I thought it was very important the initial offer was not enough.

During a December 2025 commission meeting, Kissimmee resident Lillian Evans raised public records concerns regarding grants distributed to businesses linked to the mayor. Espinosa defended her actions during that meeting, stating, I am an elected official. That means I am no one’s punching bag, so don’t ever get it twisted, I will defend what’s mine. An internal city investigation into the grant program followed her arrest.

Defense Response And Legal Proceedings

Defense attorney Migdalia Perez argued that the proceedings target a publicly administered city program rather than a hidden theft scheme. This case involves a publicly approved grant program administered by City staff, not a secret scheme to steal taxpayer money, Perez said in a statement reported by WESH. Her legal team entered a written plea of not guilty on Wednesday.

An Osceola County judge granted Mayor Espinosa a $70,000 bond on Thursday following her initial detention. Statewide prosecutors must now establish criminal intent beyond a reasonable doubt as the case proceeds through the court system.