There is probable cause to believe businesses owned by Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa and her family illegally received funds from a city grant program, the Florida Commission on Ethics announced Wednesday.
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The commission’s conclusion comes after Espinosa, elected in 2024, narrowly survived an impeachment attempt last month over the same allegations — that three businesses linked to her and family collected $50,000 through Business Boost 2.0, a program funded by federal pandemic money that launched in September 2025.
The state finding is not a final determination, but it could lead to the commission deciding Espinosa violated the law. The probable cause finding was announced in a press release following a closed-door meeting Aug. 28. Espinosa, whose office didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment, has until Sept. 16 to request a public hearing on the matter, according to the commission’s order filed Wednesday.
In a separate complaint filed against Espinosa, the commission found no probable cause. In that case, the charge was that the mayor failed to report a gift over $100, but the commission found she merely “had disclosed the gift on the wrong form, based on the advice of the City Attorney,” the press release said.
Espinosa, who acknowledged her businesses received city grant money in earlier interviews with a special prosecutor and the Orlando Sentinel, has denied wrong wrongdoing.
On Tuesday, before the commission released its decision, Espinosa announced on social media she would be speaking out on the allegations, declaring, “So much will be revealed. Timing is our best ally and I will finally be able to express my position.”
However, she said she would only speak to “select reporters” to allow her to speak “without the substance being overshadowed by sensationalism.”
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“While I deeply respect the true spirit and responsibility of journalism, unfortunately, that standard is not always reflected,” Espinosa wrote. “For that reason, I will not be holding a traditional press conference.”
The probe began following complaints filed by Kissimmee residents in March about Espinosa using the small-business grant program for her and her family’s gain.
A July 23 report by Special Prosecutor Mayanne Downs found probable cause that Espinosa violated city ethics codes by taking part in official actions to fund and expand the small-business grant program while three businesses tied to her and her family collected money from it.
The report noted Espinosa claimed she was only warned she couldn’t take the money after it was already disbursed. And Downs said Espinosa didn’t attempt to return the money after receiving the warning from the then attorney. Rather, she led a successful effort to fire the city attorney, citing her job performance.
The report recommended the Kissimmee City Commission launch impeachment proceedings and to refer the matter to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
But in a packed Aug. 18 meeting, city commissioners were deadlocked 2-2 on whether to move forward with impeachment, keeping Espinosa in office and ending the city’s role in deciding if the mayor acted improperly.