Former Las Vegas City Councilwoman Convicted in Charity Fraud Scheme

Former Las Vegas City Councilwoman Michele Fiore convicted of charity fraud, DOJ announces.Photo byJP HoleckaonUnsplash

A federal jury in Nevada convicted former Las Vegas city councilwoman and gubernatorial candidate Michele Fiore on Thursday of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and six counts of wire fraud in a scheme to defraud charitable donors, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced today.

Fiore, 54, of Pahrump, Nevada, was found guilty of raising over $70,000 under false pretenses, claiming the funds would be used to construct memorials for fallen Las Vegas police officers.

According to evidence presented at trial, Fiore assured donors that "100% of the contributions" would go toward building statues to honor two officers who died in the line of duty. However, no funds were used for the memorials. Instead, Fiore spent the money on personal and political expenses, including rent payments and political fundraising costs.

The charges against Fiore are connected to her solicitation of donations in 2019 for a nonprofit she founded, A Bright Present Foundation, which was purportedly created to finance a statue for officer Alyn Beck, who was killed in 2014.

Despite her claims, the trial revealed that a private real estate developer had already agreed to cover the statue's costs—an arrangement Fiore was aware of as a sitting city council member.

State business records show that Fiore dissolved the nonprofit in 2021. During her time in office, Fiore garnered public support with her tough-on-crime stance, making the betrayal of donors especially shocking to those involved.

Fiore is scheduled to be sentenced on January 6, 2025, and faces up to 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud.