Attorney General James Uthmeier Announces Arrest of Kissimmee Mayor for Grand Theft, Organized Scheme to Defraud

Courtesy of the Office of the Attorney General

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the arrest of Kissimmee Mayor Eva Jacquelyn Espinosa, charging her with Grand Theft and Organized Scheme to Defraud in connection with $50,000 in grant funds she and her family received from a city program she helped create.

"Public officials do not get to write the rules and then write themselves a check," said Attorney General James Uthmeier. "The mayor used her position to push a COVID relief grant program, then took $50,000 from it for her family's businesses after being warned it was prohibited. Florida taxpayers funded that money to help small businesses recover, not to enrich the mayor who controlled it. Since we established our public integrity unit, we've worked quickly to hold corrupt officials accountable - more to come."

"The voters put their trust in their public officials to do what is best for their community, not what is best for themselves," said Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia. "Jackie Espinosa abused that trust and cashed in at the taxpayers' expense. It is called public service for a reason, not self-service. When I took office, I promised I would root out waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption and today I am fulfilling that promise for the people of Kissimmee."

"Today's arrest shows exactly why accountability matters. Attorney General Uthmeier's leadership in upholding the rule of law and ensuring public officials are held accountable is essential to maintaining the trust Floridians place in their government," said FDLE Commissioner Larry Keefe. "We appreciate CFO Ingoglia and the Department of Financial Services for identifying this case through rigorous audits, and our agents for their thorough and uncompromising investigation."

According to the investigation, Espinosa took office as mayor in November 2024. Shortly thereafter, she advocated for and voted on the creation and expansion of the City of Kissimmee's Business Boost 2.0 program, which was funded with American Rescue Plan Act dollars and intended to provide one-time assistance to eligible small businesses within the city.

On the same day the program opened for applications in September 2025, Espinosa and immediate family members submitted applications for three businesses they owned or controlled, requesting a combined $50,000. The applications were approved and the funds were deposited into accounts linked to the Espinosa family on November 7, 2025.

On December 5, 2025, the city attorney notified Espinosa that accepting the funds created a prohibited conflict of interest. Espinosa was advised to return the money, but she declined to do so, stated she would fight any complaint, and took no corrective action. Bank records later confirmed the deposits.

Mayor Espinosa demonstrated her intent to create, streamline and simplify, reduce oversight of, and more easily enable a process whereby herself and her immediate family were able to apply for and receive City funds to which she was not ordinarily entitled.

The warrant charges Espinosa with one count of Grand Theft ($20,000 to $100,000), a second-degree felony, and one count of Organized Scheme to Defraud ($50,000 or more), a first-degree felony.

The joint investigation was led by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Department of Financial Services Criminal Investigations Division. The case will be prosecuted in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit by the Office of Statewide Prosecution's Public Integrity Unit Special Counsel, Richard Mantei.

To view the redacted affidavit for arrest warrant and arrest warrant, click here.

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