Florida mayor arrested in $50,000 grant scandal — city says she’s still mayor

THE DAILY BS: HOW MUCH CAN YOU HANDLE?

SPARE ME THE BS (I’ve got things to do).

Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa was arrested Wednesday on grand theft and organized fraud charges involving $50,000 in city business grants.
State investigators allege she helped create the assistance program before benefiting from grants awarded to family-linked businesses.
Espinosa posted $70,000 bond Thursday, but the city says she remains mayor unless she resigns, is suspended or is removed.

LAY IT ON ME (I’ve got time).

Florida officials say the mayor of Kissimmee helped create a program to distribute COVID-era business grants — and then allegedly helped her own family collect $50,000 from it.

Now she’s facing felony charges. But here’s the part that makes this especially interesting: She’s still the mayor.

Jackie Espinosa was arrested Wednesday following an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement into Kissimmee’s Business Boost 2.0 program. Prosecutors accuse her of using her public position to secure grants for businesses connected to her family, even after receiving warnings that doing so was prohibited.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier didn’t exactly disguise his opinion of the allegations.

“Public officials do not get to write the rules and then write themselves a check,” he said in announcing the arrest.

Today, we announced the arrest of Kissimmee Mayor Eva Jacquelyn Espinosa for Grand Theft and Organized Scheme to Defraud. Mayor Espinosa used her position to push a grant program, then took $50,000 from it to enrich her family’s businesses.

Public officials do not get to write the rules and then write themselves a check. Florida taxpayers funded that money to help small businesses, not to enrich the mayor who controlled it.

https://t.co/0zbSOlWlvk

— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) October 21, 2026

According to the state, Espinosa helped push the grant program and later benefited when $50,000 went to family businesses. Investigators allege that the assistance was intended for struggling small-business owners, not for a public official’s relatives.

Espinosa faces charges of grand theft and organized scheme to defraud. But the affair didn’t begin with Wednesday’s arrest.

ClickOrlando reported Thursday that an ethics complaint filed in March had led to a lengthy investigation, and a special prosecutor had recommended impeachment and referral to law enforcement.

By Thursday night, Espinosa had posted a $70,000 bond after spending a night in jail. As reporters surrounded her following her release, she urged people to vote in the November 3 election.

BOND HEARING for Kissimmee mayor, Jackie Espinosa. (FULL)

Bond is set at 70K, altogether, for both charges.
Statewide prosecutor asked for a source hearing of the bail funds, it was DENIED.

Espinosa is due back in court on December 1. https://t.co/aZMaPazdYo

— Kiki Danger (@itskikidanger) October 22, 2026

That brings us to the city government’s rather unusual predicament.

Kissimmee officials explained that an arrest does not automatically remove a mayor from office. Under the city charter, she remains in her position until a qualifying event such as suspension, resignation, or removal.

Vice Mayor Angela Eady will handle certain mayoral duties in Espinosa’s absence, while City Manager Mike Steigerwald has authorized an internal investigation into the grant program.

So the city is investigating the program, state prosecutors have charged the mayor over the program, and the mayor retains her title while the process plays out. It’s the kind of arrangement that could make the next city commission meeting considerably more interesting than usual.