A former Las Vegas city councilwoman has been convicted by a federal jury in Nevada on charges related to a charity fraud scheme. Michele Fiore, 54, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and six counts of wire fraud. The charges stem from her actions while serving as a city councilwoman, during which she misled donors into believing their contributions would fund memorials for police officers killed in the line of duty.
Court documents and trial evidence revealed that Fiore solicited over $70,000 from donors with the promise that "100% of the contributions" would go towards building statues for two fallen Las Vegas police officers. Contrary to these claims, none of the funds were used for the intended purpose. Instead, Fiore diverted the donations to cover personal and political expenses such as political fundraising bills, rent payments, and payments to family members.
Fiore's sentencing is scheduled for January 6, 2025. She faces up to twenty years in prison for each count. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines along with other statutory factors.
The announcement was made by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans from the FBI Las Vegas Field Office.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. Trial Attorneys Dahoud Askar and Alexander Gottfried, along with paralegal specialist Heather DePremio from the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section, are handling prosecution duties with substantial assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada.