Kissimmee mayor Jackie Espinosa fined $2K by Florida Commission on Ethics in joint agreement

The Florida Commission on Ethics has agreed to issue a civil fine and a public reprimand to Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa, part of a joint resolution agreement reached with the Commission, following ethical questions and concerns related to COVID-era business relief funds distributed to Espinosa and her family members.Under the accepted agreement, Espinosa will be fined $2,000 and formally censured and publicly reprimanded. The Commission accepted the recommendation unanimously on Friday morning."She violated section 112, 3137, Florida statutes by having an employment and or contractual relationship with the entity doing business with her agency," the commission said.Kissimmee mayor arrested for grand theft and fraud allegedly tied to COVID-era business grantsEspinosa was arrested early Wednesday morning on charges of grand theft and fraud tied to $50,000 in COVID-era grants that were awarded to her and/or businesses owned by her family members under the City of Kissimmee's "Business