LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A federal grand jury has indicted former Las Vegas councilwoman Michele Fiore in an alleged charity fraud scheme.
According to the Department of Justice, Fiore – currently serving as a Justice of the Peace in Nye County – was charged with four counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud on Tuesday. The indictment found that, during her time as a city councilwoman, Fiore solicited donations to build a statue honoring Las Vegas police officers killed in the line of duty.
Fiore allegedly promised donors that 100% of their contributions would go toward creating the statue. She is now accused of using the tens of thousands of dollars received for the statue to pay for political fundraising bills, rent, and her daughter’s wedding.
If convicted, Fiore faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count.
Fiore served as a Republican member of the Nevada State Assembly, representing District 4 from 2012 to 2016. Following her time in the Assembly, she would also make an unsuccessful bid for Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District seat in the U.S. House.
In 2017, she won a seat on the Las Vegas City Council, representing Ward 6.
Fiore also ran for Nevada State Treasurer in November 2022, but was defeated by current Treasurer Zach Conine. Earlier that same year, she also ran for Governor of Nevada, but did not appear on the ballot.
Fiore currently serves as a justice of peace in Pahrump Justice Court. She was appointed to the position in December 2022.
FOX5 has reached out to Nye County and Fiore for comment, but has yet to hear back.
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