Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa charged with fraud and theft

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Two days after Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa was arrested on theft and fraud charges, some local business owners are reacting to the allegations involving a city grant program created to help small businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Luz Diaz, owner of Blooming Nails in Kissimmee, said the program helped her business after she applied last year. Diaz said the city approved her application and awarded her a $10,000 grant within about two weeks.

“It was helpful to me. I was able to pay for things that I had pending to pay for. I was able to anticipate things that I had in mind to do in the business,” Diaz said through a translation from Spanish.

The city launched Business Boost 2.0 in September 2025. The program provided financial assistance to qualifying small businesses affected by the pandemic.

According to the city’s website, applications are currently paused because of high demand. Businesses must have fewer than 500 employees and demonstrate COVID-19-related financial hardship to qualify.

State investigators allege three businesses connected to Espinosa and family members received a combined $50,000 through the program.

Diaz said the allegations surprised and saddened her.

“It was a surprise for me because I didn’t think this was going to happen here,” Diaz said through a translation from Spanish.

Diaz said the situation also concerns her because of its effect on Kissimmee and its Latino community.

“I am very embarrassed for what is happening because our city has been hit several times,” Diaz said, “And that affects the Latino community a lot, because they see us in a way that they shouldn’t see us.”

Espinosa faces one count of grand theft and one count of organized scheme to defraud.

Espinosa has pleaded not guilty.

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