Dont ComplyReason reports that Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa has been charged with one felony count each of grand theft and organized scheme to defraud. Investigators say she used her position to obtain $50,000 in city grant money for businesses owned or controlled by her family. According to the report, Espinosa helped develop the city's Business Boost 2.0 program, which distributed federal COVID-19 relief funds to local small businesses, and then applied for grants alongside immediate family members. One family business received $20,000 and two others received $15,000 each in November 2025. Reason reports the city attorney warned her the next month that accepting the grants would create a prohibited conflict of interest, but she did not return the money. Espinosa has pleaded not guilty. Her attorney argues the grants came through a publicly approved program administered by city employees.
Why it matters
Federal COVID-19 relief funds meant for local small businesses are alleged to have gone to a mayor's family after she helped design the program. She has pleaded not guilty, and the charges have not been proven.
These are unproven claims, and everyone named is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Researched with AI assistance from the sources listed here and reviewed under our methodology.