Florida ethics panel formally censures Kissimmee mayor after her arrest

Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa was formally censured and fined Friday after the Florida Commission on Ethics approved a joint stipulation agreement. The agreement comes two days after Espinosa’s arrest on fraud and theft charges stemming from the same accusations.Espinosa has been under fire because businesses belonging to her or her family received a combined $50,000 in grants through the city’s BOOST 2.0 grant program, which used federal COVID-19 relief money to assist Kissimmee businesses.[WATCH: Kissimmee says she will accept a formal reprimand after ethics dispute]In August, the ethics commission found probable cause, and in September an advocate recommended the joint stipulation agreement. The agreement said Espinosa admitted that businesses she was connected with did benefit from the program, in violation of Florida statutes.Espinosa agreed to the deal, but insisted to News 6 that there was no criminal conduct.“The businesses were entitled to this money,” Espinosa said. “This m