{"id":2689150,"date":"2026-10-21T18:20:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T22:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dem-mayor-jailed-charged-with-theft-and-organized-scheme-to-defraud\/"},"modified":"2026-10-21T18:20:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T22:20:00","slug":"dem-mayor-jailed-charged-with-theft-and-organized-scheme-to-defraud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dem-mayor-jailed-charged-with-theft-and-organized-scheme-to-defraud\/","title":{"rendered":"Dem Mayor Jailed, Charged with Theft and &#8216;Organized Scheme to Defraud&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdem-mayor-jailed-charged-with-theft-and-organized-scheme-to-defraud%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2689150&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa was arrested Wednesday morning and charged with grand theft and an organized scheme to defraud, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced.<\/p>\n<p>Uthmeier announced the arrest in a social media post and said a news conference would be held at 2 p.m. at the attorney general\u2019s Orlando office with Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia and Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Keefe.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">This morning, we arrested Kissimmee mayor Jackie Espinosa and are charging her with Grand Theft and Organized Scheme to Defraud.<\/p>\n<p>We will be holding a press conference at 2pm at our Orlando office with CFO Ingoglia and FDLE Commissioner Keefe to provide more information.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AGJamesUthmeier\/status\/2112892920554791033?\">October 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Osceola County Jail records showed Espinosa booked and held without bond on both charges, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wesh.com\/article\/kissimmee-mayor-jackie-espinosa-arrested\/74204020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WESH-TV reported<\/a>. The mayor\u2019s office is nonpartisan, but Espinosa is a Democrat, according to local coverage of the District 4 commission primary.<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-embed\"> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa arrested on grand theft, fraud charges\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/SrBRqySU70I?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>The charges follow earlier findings that three businesses owned by Espinosa or her family collected $50,000 through the city\u2019s Business Boost 2.0 grant program, which was funded by federal pandemic money.<\/p>\n<p>WESH reported that a special prosecutor found <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wesh.com\/article\/clear-probable-cause-to-pursue-impeachment-of-kissimmee-mayor-special-prosecutor-says\/73248830\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">probable cause<\/a> earlier this year to initiate impeachment proceedings, alleging she withheld public funds and failed to disclose her personal interests while taking part in official actions that funded and expanded the program.<\/p>\n<p>The city commission <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wesh.com\/article\/kissimmee-mayor-fine-censure-ethics-investigation\/73782584\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">deadlocked<\/a> 2-2 on advancing the impeachment, so the proceeding ended. The Florida Commission on Ethics later found probable cause on related allegations and recommended a $2,000 fine and public censure.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">BREAKING: Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa, who previously ran as a Democrat for county commissioner, was just ARRESTED on charges of grand theft and an organized scheme to defraud.<\/p>\n<p>She allegedly distributed $50,000 in grants to businesses owned by her family. https:\/\/t.co\/PjFJwaMTPB<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/libsoftiktok\/status\/2112921194768761068?\">October 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">\ud83d\udea8 BREAKING: Democrat-aligned Kissimmee FL Mayor Jackie Espinosa has just been ARRESTED on Grand THEFT and Organized Scheme to DEFRAUD, AG James Uthmeier announces<\/p>\n<p>WOW. FLORIDA FAFO \u2600\ufe0f<\/p>\n<p>She was booked into the Osceola County Jail this morning. She was already under fire for allegedly steering $50,000 in COVID relief grants to businesses run by her own family, through a program she helped create<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis morning, we arrested Kissimmee mayor Jackie Espinosa and are charging her with Grand Theft and Organized Scheme to Defraud.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A special prosecutor found \u201cclear probable cause\u201d to pursue her impeachment on three ethics allegations<\/p>\n<p>Florida doesn\u2019t play! FRAUDSTERS ARE BEING PROSECUTED FULLY.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/EricLDaugh\/status\/2112919464576483792?\">October 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/> Ingoglia said in a statement that his auditing team and Criminal Investigations Division identified the alleged misuse of taxpayer dollars and that Espinosa would have to answer for taking from the taxpayers.<\/p>\n<p>Espinosa\u2019s attorney, Migdalia Perez, said the mayor maintains her innocence.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis case involves a publicly approved grant program administered by City staff, not a secret scheme to steal taxpayer money,\u201d the statement read. \u201cThere is a fundamental difference between an alleged ethics violation and a criminal offense.\u201d The lawyer said the state must prove criminal intent and that the defense intends to challenge the allegations in court.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">This morning my team, along with @fdlepio, arrested the Mayor of Kissimmee for abusing her office for personal gain.<\/p>\n<p>I am proud of the outstanding work that my auditing team and Criminal Investigations Division did to uncover the alleged misuse of taxpayer dollars and to ensure that Jackie Espinosa\u2019s corruption did not go without recourse.<\/p>\n<p>See you at 2pm with more info with @AGJamesUthmeier<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Blaise Ingoglia (@GovGoneWild) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GovGoneWild\/status\/2112916810790002781?\">October 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Espinosa was elected in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Uthmeier has said his office has multiple active public-corruption investigations.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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Uthmeier announced the arrest in a social media post and said a news conference would be held at 2 p.m. at the attorney general\u2019s Orlando office with Chief Financial Officer<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2689151,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Espinoza-vs-Uthmeier.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2689150","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Espinoza-vs-Uthmeier.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2689150","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2689150"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2689150\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2689151"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2689150"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2689150"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2689150"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}