KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Oct. 25, 2026 — Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa has been arrested on charges of grand theft and scheme to defraud, Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia and Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Wednesday, Oct. 21.[1]

The arrest followed a joint investigation by the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) Criminal Investigations Division and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Office of Executive Investigations into how COVID-19 grant money was awarded.[1]

What the state alleges

The account below comes from the state's press release. It describes what investigators allege, not what a court has found.

  • According to DFS, the case began with a routine department audit of how local governments used grants and COVID-19-related money.[1]
  • DFS says it determined that Espinosa may have used her position as mayor to improperly influence the award of money from the city's Business Boost 2.0 grant program.[1]
  • DFS investigators said seven businesses in properties owned or managed by members of Espinosa's family received a combined $90,000 in grant money. Of that, $50,000 went to Espinosa's businesses and $40,000 went to tenants in her buildings.[1]

DFS referred the case to FDLE's Office of Executive Investigations, which led the criminal investigation with help from DFS investigators. DFS also sent information to the Florida Commission on Ethics and to the special prosecutor overseeing an ethics complaint against the mayor, which the Kissimmee City Commission had requested.[1]

The charges

According to the state, Attorney General Uthmeier and the Office of the Statewide Prosecutor filed these charges:[1]

  • Grand theft ($20,000 or more but less than $100,000), a second-degree felony
  • Scheme to defraud ($50,000 or more), a first-degree felony

What officials said

"Public officials do not get to write the rules and then write themselves a check," Uthmeier said.[1]

"It is called public service for a reason, not self-service," Ingoglia said.[1]

FDLE Commissioner Larry Keefe said, "Public office is a responsibility, not an opportunity for personal gain."[1]

Her side

The state's release includes no response from Espinosa or her attorney. Under Florida and U.S. law, she is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Launchpad Digital will update this story with court filings and any statement from her as the case moves forward.

Sources

  1. Florida Department of Financial Services, "Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia and Attorney General James Uthmeier Announce Criminal Charges Against Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa," Oct. 21, 2026. https://www.myfloridacfo.com/news/pressreleases/press-release-details/2026/10/21/chief-financial-officer-blaise-ingoglia-and-attorney-general-james-uthmeier-announce-criminal-charges-against-kissimmee-mayor-jackie-espinosa

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