Former Las Vegas politician convicted of fraud over police memorial funds
Michele Fiore was found guilty by a federal jury for misusing more than $70,000 intended for statues honouring fallen officers.
A federal jury in the District of Nevada convicted former Las Vegas city councilwoman Michele Fiore in October 2024. According to the Times of India, Fiore was found guilty of one conspiracy charge and six counts of wire fraud related to a fundraising campaign.
The campaign was intended to build statues for two Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers killed in the line of duty. Prosecutors stated that Fiore promised donors that 100 per cent of the funds would go toward the memorials.
Instead, federal prosecutors presented evidence that Fiore used the more than $70,000 collected for unrelated purposes. These expenses included her personal rent, political fundraising bills, money for family members, and costs for her daughter's wedding.
The US Department of Justice said contributors believed they were funding permanent tributes rather than Fiore's private or political activities. No money from the donations was used to build the proposed memorials.
Fiore, 54, previously served on the Las Vegas City Council and ran as a Republican candidate for governor of Nevada. She was living in Pahrump at the time of her conviction.
A federal district court judge will determine her sentence based on statutory considerations and US Sentencing Guidelines.