Suspended from her judicial responsibilities, Michele Fiore faces federal fraud charges after an indictment by a grand jury. According to News 3 LV, the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline's unanimous decision on Wednesday affects Fiore's tenure as a justice of the peace in Nye County. Her suspension comes into immediate effect this Friday, albeit she is still entitled to her annual salary.
Previously a Las Vegas city councilwoman, Fiore is accused of misusing donations intended for the construction of a statue in honor of a fallen police officer. Specifically, she directed these funds for private usage, including covering her daughter's wedding expenses and her own rent payments, walking out of a courthouse on Friday after pleading not guilty, Fiore described the accusation as an "attack on my character," as reported by News 3 LV. The 53-year-old maintains her innocence regarding the fraudulent redirection of charity monies she was entrusted with.
Still receiving her annual salary, last recorded at $90,233 in 2023, Fiore's suspension by the state panel does not sever her financial ties with her office despite facing charges "with a crime punishable as a felony," as clarified in a commission order released Wednesday. Pertinent information obtained by The Nevada Independent illuminates the ongoing development in this high-profile legal battle.
In a move that attracted attention, Fiore did not explicitly discuss the charges against her nor her bench suspension in a statement sent through Nye County. Instead, she referred to her prominence in defending the Bundy family in 2018, stating to local voters, "You have entrusted me with your votes because I will always stand for our Constitution and our rights as citizens under one flag, even at significant personal cost. That moment is now," as outlined by The Nevada Independent. If convicted, she grapples with the prospect of a 20-year maximum sentence for each of the four counts of wire found and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud she faces.
The FBI's Las Vegas Field Office is investigating the case of the former councilwoman. While the indictment communicates only allegations, and Fiore is presumed innocent until proven otherwise, the proceedings and her rebuttal in court are anticipated by many. As indicated by Hoodline, a September 9 pretrial conference and a September 24 trial date have been set for Fiore, who has assured donors in the past that "100% of the contributions" would be allocated towards honoring fallen officers.
