DeSantis Suspends Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa After Her Arrest on Grant Fraud Charges

Gov. Ron DeSantis has suspended Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa, the City of Kissimmee announced in a midnight news release, following her arrest earlier this month on felony charges tied to a city grant program. Vice Mayor Angela Eady will serve as mayor until the suspension is revoked or the current mayoral term ends, and the governor's order prohibits Espinosa from receiving pay, allowances or other privileges of office during the suspension, according to reporting on the order.

Espinosa was arrested on October 21 on charges of grand theft and organized scheme to defraud. The Florida Attorney General's Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement allege that Espinosa, as mayor, helped create and expand the city's Business Boost 2.0 grant program — a COVID-era relief program — then applied for $50,000 in grants for businesses connected to her or her family members, and ignored ethical concerns raised by staff members, FOX 35 Orlando reported from the arrest affidavit.

Under Florida's Constitution, the governor may suspend an elected municipal official who has been indicted for a crime or arrested on a charge related to the duties of the office. Espinosa, who was elected in November 2024, had previously been issued a public reprimand by the Florida Commission on Ethics and ordered to pay a $2,000 civil fine, and the Kissimmee commission deadlocked in August on whether to impeach her.

The suspension leaves Eady's own commission seat, seat 2, open; the City Commission will appoint a qualified person to fill it, and the appointee will not serve as vice mayor. The city said its manager remains in charge of day-to-day operations and that city operations will continue as normal. Espinosa's criminal charges are allegations that will be decided in court; she has not been convicted.