Kissimmee mayor arrested, accused of misusing COVID relief funds

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (WWSB) - Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa has been arrested. She is accused of using pandemic relief funds to fund businesses that she and her family have ties to. She is charged with grand theft and an organized scheme to defraud.Attorney General James Uthmeier and Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia on Wednesday discussed the criminal investigation into Espinosa, which they say stemmed from an audit by Florida Doge.Investigators say Espinosa helped create, promote and vote on a business program designed to help small businesses recover after the COVID pandemic. Espinosa and her immediate family then submitted three separate applications for grant funds for their businesses, receiving $50,000 in total, investigators said.Steube drafts resolution to expel lawmaker accused of stealing relief fundsThe affidavit notes there was no provision in that program about conflicts of interest.Investigators say the Kissimmee City Attorney’s Office was never consulted. The city at