Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa, already embattled and facing claims she inappropriately approved city grants for businesses linked to her and her family, was arrested Wednesday morning, charged with grand theft and scheming to defraud, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced on social media.
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Uthmeier will address reporters in Orlando at 2 p.m., joined by Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia and Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Larry Keefe, the attorney general said.
No details of the accusations have been released. A spokesperson for the City of Kissimmee did not immediately reply to a message seeking comment.
A July report by Special Prosecutor Mayanne Downs, tapped by a judge to investigate after the city started looking into complaints against Espinosa, recommended the city refer the matter to law enforcement, though it’s not clear if that led to her arrest Wednesday.
Downs found probable cause that the mayor 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 three businesses collected $50,000 through Business Boost 2.0, a program funded by federal pandemic money that launched in September 2025.
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Elected mayor in 2024, Espinosa narrowly survived impeachment over the matter, with a 2-2 vote ending the proceeding.
In August, the Florida Commission on Ethics, looking into the same allegations, found probable cause that the money funneled to the businesses was illegal.
Records show the case was on the commission’s agenda to be finalized with a $2,000 penalty and a “public censure and reprimand” during the commission’s next meeting on Friday.
Migdalia Perez, the attorney representing Espinosa in the ethics case, did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
Espinosa is currently in the Osceola County Jail.
On Aug. 25, Jeremy Fetzer, a political consultant closely tied to Espinosa, was arrested for perjury for statements made under oath in an ethics complaint against Kissimmee City Commissioner Janette Martinez, who is also being probed by the ethics commission.
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The criminal case against Fetzer is ongoing.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.