‘Abused her office to enrich herself’: Florida mayor arrested for allegedly defrauding COVID relief program she created

The mayor of the central Florida city of Kissimmee dodged an impeachment trial, only to end up in handcuffs.

Jackie Espinosa — who was born in New Jersey and elected mayor in 2024 with some Democrat support — was arrested on Wednesday morning. According to the Osceola County charging affidavit, she has been slapped with one count of first-degree felony organized scheme to defraud $50,000 or more and one second-degree felony count of grand theft of over $20,000 but less than $100,000.

‘It is about public service, not self-service.’

The mayor has been dogged for months by allegations that she personally benefited from Business Boost 2.0, a COVID-19 relief grant program that she championed and helped create in September 2025. The program reportedly relies in part on federal