A former Las Vegas city council member and Nevada legislator, Michelle Fiore, has been found guilty of federal wire fraud by a jury in Las Vegas. The charges stem from her solicitation of funds for a memorial dedicated to a fallen Las Vegas police officer, which she instead used for personal expenses such as her daughter’s wedding, rent, and cosmetic surgery.
Fiore was convicted on six counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, with each count potentially resulting in a 20-year prison sentence. Following the verdict, her attorney announced plans to explore the possibility of an appeal, while sentencing is scheduled for January 6.
In 2022, Fiore attempted to enter the Nevada governor’s race and even aired campaign ads in Florida. However, she later dropped out and ran for state treasurer but lost in the primary election. After being appointed as justice of the peace by Nye County commissioners, she resigned from the Las Vegas City Council, where she served from 2017 to 2022. Her judicial role was suspended following her arrest.
Federal prosecutors revealed during the trial that Fiore had raised over $70,000 for the memorial statue of a police officer killed in the line of duty in 2014. Prosecutor Dahoud Askar remarked, “Michelle Fiore used a tragedy to line her pockets.” The 54-year-old has previously made headlines for controversial poses with firearms in holiday cards during her tenure in the Nevada Legislature from 2012 to 2016.