Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa was arrested Wednesday morning on charges of grand theft and organized scheme to defraud, according to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier. Uthmeier announced the arrest on social media, writing, “This morning, we arrested Kissimmee mayor Jackie Espinosa and are charging her with Grand Theft and Organized Scheme to Defraud.” A neighbor’s Ring camera caught a large law enforcement presence outside Espinosa’s home as it all went down.
The charges stem from the city’s Business Boost 2.0 program, a COVID-19 relief fund meant to help small businesses recover from the pandemic. Uthmeier put it plainly at a Wednesday press conference in Orlando: “This was a program to try to help small businesses get back up on their feet after the COVID pandemic. It was not designed to help government officials enrich themselves.” Apparently nobody sent Espinosa that memo, because prosecutors say she submitted three applications on the very first day the program opened in September 2025, seeking $50,000 for herself and family members.
The full picture is even worse. According to Kissimmee mayor fraud charges, Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia explained that a routine audit uncovered a broader pattern, with seven businesses located in properties owned or managed by Espinosa’s family receiving a combined $90,000 in grant funds. “Fifty thousand went to Espinosa businesses, while $40,000 went to tenants in Espinosa businesses, so $50,000 directly, $40,000 indirectly,” Ingoglia said. That’s quite the family business plan.
This arrest caps off months of chaos surrounding Espinosa. Back in September, the Florida Commission on Ethics censured her and recommended a $2,000 fine after investigating whether she funneled $50,000 in city COVID funds to family-tied businesses. She had also previously survived an impeachment attempt when Kissimmee city commissioners deadlocked 2-2 on whether to move forward with a trial. Lucky breaks have a way of running out.
Ingoglia made clear the stakes, saying Espinosa faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted. He offered a sharp comparison to another high-profile financial scandal, and he was not exactly being gentle about it. Ingoglia also praised the work of his auditing team, saying, “Public service should never be self-service, and Jackie Espinosa will now have to answer for taking from the taxpayers.” Uthmeier was joined at the Orlando press conference by Ingoglia, FDLE Commissioner Larry Keefe, and special counsel Rich Mantei.
Espinosa’s attorney, Migdalia Perez, released a statement maintaining her client’s innocence. “This case involves a publicly approved grant program administered by City staff, not a secret scheme to steal taxpayer money,” Perez wrote, adding that “there is a fundamental difference between an alleged ethics violation and a criminal offense.” Espinosa is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and the case will play out in court.
Prosecutors are moving forward, a press conference Wednesday afternoon was set to provide further updates, and Espinosa’s legal team says they intend to fight the charges vigorously. So stay tuned, because the mayor who allegedly treated a small-business relief fund like a family ATM is just getting started in court.
Also, can someone tell the Democrats to stop breaking the law? Sheesh, no wonder the Democrat district attorneys are soft on criminals, because most of them ARE CRIMINALS!
