Florida Mayor Jackie Espinosa Arrested on Theft, Fraud Charges

WHO:

ABC News - Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa, 58, was identified in jail records by her full name, Eva Jacqulyn Espinosa.

ABC News - Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the charges; Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia and Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Larry Keefe were set to join him for a news conference.

ABC News - Espinosa’s attorney, Migdalia Perez, said Espinosa “maintains her innocence” and intends to challenge the allegations “vigorously in court.”

WESH - Uthmeier, Ingoglia and Keefe provided information about the case at a news conference.

WESH - Ingoglia said his office audited city COVID-19 grant programs, including Kissimmee’s, and that Espinosa received grants for businesses owned by her and her family.

WHAT:

ABC News - Espinosa was arrested on charges of grand theft and an organized scheme to defraud. Jail records classified the grand theft allegation as involving more than $20,000 and less than $100,000.

WESH - Jail records showed Espinosa was held without bond on both charges. Ingoglia said Espinosa could face up to 30 years in prison.

WESH - Uthmeier alleged Espinosa used her position to advance a COVID relief grant program and received $50,000 for businesses belonging to her and family members; he said she had been warned this was prohibited. Ingoglia said additional money was received indirectly.

WESH - Uthmeier said Espinosa voted for a COVID grant program without transparently disclosing personal interests, creating a conflict of interest.

WESH - The Business Boost 2.0 Grant Program is a federally funded City of Kissimmee COVID-19 relief initiative offering small businesses non-repayable grants of $5,000 to $20,000.

ABC News - Perez said the program was publicly approved and administered by city staff, not a secret scheme to steal taxpayer money. She said the state must prove criminal intent and every element of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt, and distinguished an alleged ethics violation from a criminal offense.

WESH - Uthmeier said, “There is zero tolerance when it comes to public corruption.” Ingoglia said, “Corruption has no place in the state of Florida.”

WHERE:

ABC News - Espinosa was booked into the Osceola County Jail.

WESH - The news conference was held at the attorney general’s Orlando office.

WHEN:

ABC News - Espinosa has served as Kissimmee’s mayor since November 2024; her term ends in 2028.

WESH - The news conference was scheduled for 2 p.m.; jail records said Espinosa was being held without bond.

WHY:

ABC News - Uthmeier did not initially provide further details about the charges.

WESH - Uthmeier said the alleged grants were intended to help small businesses recover, “not to enrich the mayor who controlled it.”

HOW:

ABC News - Jail records showed Espinosa was booked under her full name.

WESH - Uthmeier announced the arrest in a social media post; officials said they would provide further information at the news conference.

(UPDATED October 21, 2026 19:22 UTC)

Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa has been arrested on charges of grand theft and an organized scheme to defraud over COVID relief grants. Jail records classify the theft allegation as involving more than $20,000 but less than $100,000, and show she is being held without bond. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier alleges Espinosa used her position to advance a city grant program, then received $50,000 for businesses belonging to her and family members, with additional funds received indirectly. He says she voted for the program without disclosing her interests, and had been warned the grants were prohibited. The federally funded Business Boost 2.0 program offered small businesses grants of $5,000 to $20,000. Espinosa’s attorney, Migdalia Perez, says her client maintains her innocence and will challenge the charges, arguing the program was publicly approved and that an ethics violation is not necessarily a crime. Espinosa has served as mayor since November 2024.