Michele Fiore, a controversial former Nevada lawmaker, has been convicted of wire fraud after misusing over $70,000 in charity donations—money she diverted for rent, cosmetic surgery, and her daughter’s wedding.
At a Glance
- Fiore Convicted of Six Wire Fraud Counts
- Over $70K in Donations Misused for Personal Gain
- Faces 140 Years, Sentencing Set for May 2025
- Claims FBI Targeted Her Over Politics
- Motion Filed for New Trial Alleging Injustice
A Stunning Fall for a Fiery Politician
Michele Fiore, once a prominent voice in Nevada’s conservative political scene, now faces up to 140 years in prison after a federal jury found her guilty on all charges related to a wire fraud conspiracy. According to the Nevada Independent, the former Las Vegas City Council member was convicted of six counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy for misusing charitable funds intended to erect a statue honoring slain police officer Alyn Beck.
Between 2019 and 2020, Fiore reportedly solicited public donations for the memorial while serving as a city councilwoman. However, prosecutors revealed that the statue had already been funded by the city before Fiore began fundraising. As AP News reported, she instead used the more than $70,000 raised for personal expenses—including rent payments, plastic surgery, and her daughter’s wedding.
Watch a report at Michele Fiore convicted by jury in wire fraud case.
Fallout and Fierce Denials
Following the October 2024 conviction, Fiore was suspended without pay from her role as a Nye County Justice of the Peace. While her sentencing is now scheduled for May 14, 2025, Fiore remains free and continues to mount a defiant public defense. She insists her trial was marred by ineffective legal representation and biased jury instructions.
Fiore’s legal team has filed a motion for a new trial, arguing that jurors were emotionally swayed by irrelevant testimony—including from Officer Beck’s widow—and that critical exculpatory evidence was withheld. As detailed by Courthouse News Service, Fiore claims her previous lawyer failed to present her tax returns, which she says would prove the presence of other income sources.
In a fiery public statement reported by the Daily Mail, Fiore blamed the FBI for targeting her due to her outspoken political stances and support for figures like rancher Cliven Bundy, stating, “For a decade I’ve been their target for standing up for what was right.”
Controversy is Nothing New
This isn’t Fiore’s first brush with backlash. During her years in the Nevada Assembly and on the Las Vegas City Council, she made national headlines for provocative remarks and fringe medical theories. She once promoted injecting sodium carbonate as a cancer treatment and proposed shooting Syrian refugees to prevent terrorism—a comment that The Daily Mail recounted among many controversial moments.
Despite the guilty verdict, Fiore has not retreated from public view. As she awaits sentencing, her legal maneuvering continues to draw attention. The speed of the jury’s verdict—returned in under two hours—only adds to the drama surrounding her case.
Now, as the appeal moves forward, Fiore’s political legacy hangs in the balance, raising larger questions about the obligations of elected officials and the ethics of charitable solicitation.
