Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa suspended after fraud arrest

Gov. Ron DeSantis has suspended Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa, 10 days after her arrest on charges of organized scheme to defraud and grand theft, WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando reported. The City of Kissimmee announced that Vice Mayor Angela Eady has assumed the office of mayor following the suspension.

Espinosa is accused of using her position as mayor to obtain COVID-19 relief grants for her and her family’s businesses, allegations she denies, calling them administrative rather than criminal, according to WKMG. Businesses tied to Espinosa received about $50,000 through the city’s BOOST 2.0 grant program, which used federal COVID-19 relief funds to support local businesses.

Prior to the arrest, the city and the Florida Commission on Ethics conducted investigations into Espinosa’s conduct. A special prosecutor recommended impeachment in July, but city commissioners deadlocked on whether to proceed. In September, Espinosa accepted a formal reprimand and a $2,000 fine from the ethics commission, admitting her businesses benefited from the grant program in violation of Florida law.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested Espinosa on October 21. She has since been released on bond. Her attorney maintains that the charges do not prove criminal intent, distinguishing between ethics violations and criminal offenses, WKMG reported.