Local Politics · Kissimmee, FL
Kissimmee Mayor Espinosa Released After $70K Bond on Grand Theft, Fraud Charges
Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa posted a $70,000 bond and was released from Osceola County Jail after her Oct. 21 arrest on charges of grand theft and scheme to defraud, allegations tied to alleged misuse of $50,000 in city grant money from the Business Boost 2.0 Grant Program. Prosecutors allege Espinosa helped create the program as mayor and then applied for grants benefiting businesses connected to her or her family members; her attorneys maintain she is innocent and that the case conflates ethics violations with criminal conduct. The City of Kissimmee stated Vice Mayor Angela Eady will assume mayoral duties during meetings while city operations continue, and an internal investigation into the grant program has been launched. Espinosa is scheduled to return to court Dec. 1 for a pretrial conference.