Florida mayor arrested on grand theft and fraud charges: State AG

Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa was arrested on charges of grand theft and organized scheme to defraud on Wednesday, according to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier. Uthmeier did not provide further details on the alleged wrongdoing, stating he will hold a news conference later in the day with Florida's chief financial officer and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner to discuss the matter.

Espinosa's attorney, Migdalia Perez, maintains her client's innocence, stating that they plan to vigorously challenge the allegations in court. The prosecution must prove that Espinosa acted with criminal intent, and her attorney argues that the case involves an ethics violation rather than a criminal offense, which requires meeting the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, Espinosa faces prosecution for grand theft involving an amount between $20,000 and $100,000. She has been serving as the mayor of Kissimmee since November 2024 and her term is set to end in 2028. This story is developing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.