Michele Fiore pleads not guilty to federal fraud charges; trial date set

Nye County Justice of the Peace Michele Fiore pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of wire fraud and conspiracy charges in federal court on Friday.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel Albregts did not set bail and released Fiore, 53, on her own recognizance, pending trial this fall.

The former Las Vegas city councilwoman and Nevada assemblywoman is accused of misusing over $70,000 in donations intended for a statue to honor a fallen Las Vegas police officer and using the funds for personal use.

Last week, a federal grand jury indicted Fiore on four counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted.

The indictment alleges Fiore promised donors their contributions would support the construction of a memorial for Officer Alyn Beck, who was killed in the line of duty in 2014. Even though the project had already secured funding from another source, Fiore continued to solicit donations, which she is accused of redirecting to cover personal expenses such as political fundraising bills and rent. The indictment alleges donations also went to pay for her daughter's wedding.

Fiore’s trial is set to begin Sept. 24 before Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey.

The FBI Las Vegas Field Office is investigating the case.

Fiore is a conservative firebrand and fervent gun-rights advocate who published a calendar of herself pictured with various high-powered firearms. As an assemblywoman in 2015, she introduced a campus carry bill that would have allowed concealed-carry permit holders to take guns to college campuses, K-12 schools and day care facilities.

Her national profile escalated significantly due to her involvement in high-profile land rights disputes, including her vocal support of Cliven Bundy and his family during the 2014 standoff over federal grazing rights and her negotiations during the 2016 Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupation in Oregon.

After serving in the Nevada Assembly from 2012 to 2016, Fiore sat on the Las Vegas City Council from 2017 to 2022. She ran unsuccessfully for the Nevada State Treasurer seat and was later appointed by Nye County commissioners as justice of the peace in Dec. 2022.

This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette Journal: Michele Fiore pleads not guilty to federal fraud charges; trial date set