Thursday, October 22, 2026Thu, Oct 22
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Florida mayor arrested over COVID relief grants, AG says

Prosecutors allege the mayor's family applied the day grant applications opened, and the city attorney had warned of a conflict of interest; she is held without bond.

On air: Chip Darnell and Gloria Vance on BBN After Hours
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▶ As it aired · U.S.

Watch it as it aired: Chip Darnell and Gloria Vance on this story, from BBN After Hours at 2:37 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are ABC News's, the jokes are ours.

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  1. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorKissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa was arrested Wednesday on grand theft and organized scheme to defraud charges, according to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier.

  2. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThree businesses allegedly received fifty thousand dollars in COVID relief grants: a dance production studio, a diner and a real estate company.

  3. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe attorney general's office alleges the mayor and her family members applied on the day applications opened in September twenty twenty-five.

  4. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorA dance studio, a diner and a real estate company. That's a full Main Street, Gloria, and I love a Main Street.

  5. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorAccording to the arrest report, the city attorney warned her the grants were a conflict of interest, and bank records show she was advised to return the money and did not.

  6. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorShe didn't return it?

  7. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorNot according to investigators. In September, the Florida Commission on Ethics censured her and recommended a two thousand dollar fine over the same question.

  8. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorHer attorney, Migdalia Perez, says it was a publicly approved grant program run by city staff, not a secret scheme to steal taxpayer money.

  9. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe state's Chief Financial Officer, Blaise Ingoglia, called it the local government equivalent of insider congressional stock trading. And she survived an impeachment try, when the commissioners split two to two.

  10. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorShe is fifty-eight and was being held without bond as of Wednesday afternoon.

  11. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorTwo thousand dollars on fifty thousand is a four percent tip, Chip, and the diner is on the list.

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