Michele Fiore addresses federal indictment accusing her of wire fraud for misusing charity donations

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Nye County Justice of the Peace Michele Fiore is responding to federal charges she is facing that accuse her of spending $70,000 in donations meant for a police memorial and spending it on her daughter’s wedding, rent, and other bills.

Fiore, 53, said she was “deeply disappointed” to learn through news reports that the federal government was indicting her for four counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The alleged crimes date back to when Fiore was a Las Vegas City councilwoman in 2019.

“Anyone who knows me understands that I take immense pride in serving my constituency,
both as a former councilwoman in Las Vegas and as a Justice of the Peace in Nye County. I
have always approached my duties with utmost integrity and dedication,” Fiore said in a statement she released to the media.

The federal indictment accuses Fiore of soliciting donations and promising donors “100% of the contributions” would go toward a memorial or statue to commemorate Las Vegas Metropolitan police officers Alyn Beck and Igor Soldo who were killed in the line of duty in 2014.

Federal authorities said instead of a memorial, the donations were used to pay for bills, rent, and her daughter’s wedding.

Fiore served in the Nevada Legislature, and on the Las Vegas City Council as a member and then mayor pro team. She also ran unsuccessfully for the governor’s seat and state treasurer. Her political career has been peppered with controversy that included support for an anti-government movement involving rancher Clive Bundy, making insensitive racial comments that resulted in an NAACP complaint, and engaging in a physical fight with another city council member.

Fiore currently serves as a Justice of the Peace in the Pahrump Justice Court in Nye County. Her term ends in January 2025.

Fiore said the federal indictment had been years in the making and “profoundly impacted my life.” She said she looks forward to her day in court.

“All matters shall be brought to light in a court of law, not in the court of public opinion,
where I first learned of my own indictment. Now that I have been accused, I eagerly await
my opportunity to address these charges in court.”

Fiore is scheduled to appear in court on the charges on July 19.

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