Nye County judge suspended after indictment on fraud charges
Ken Ritter / AP
Michele Fiore, a Pahrump judge who ran unsuccessfully for state treasurer in 2022, speaks to reporters outside U.S. District Court in Las Vegas on Friday, July 19, 2024, after pleading not guilty to federal fraud and conspiracy charges. Her attorney, Michael Sanft, watches at left.
Thursday, July 25, 2024 | 1:59 p.m.
Former Las Vegas City Councilwoman Michele Fiore has been suspended from her duties as justice of the peace in Nye County after a felony grand jury indictment.
The seven-member Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline on Wednesday suspended Fiore with pay. She earned $90,233 in 2023, Nye County spokesperson Arnold Knightly said.
Fiore, 53, was hit with a five-count felony indictment this month alleging she used funds for a fallen police officer memorial for personal gain, allegedly putting the money toward rent and her political campaign funds.
Fiore pleaded not guilty to the charges last week, and a trial date was set for Sept. 24.
In a statement issued today, Fiore said she was asking for “prayers and support” as she goes through “this distressing and challenging time.”
In her statement, Fiore cast herself as a target of the FBI and federal prosecutors because she supported Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy and his family during and after armed standoffs against federal law enforcement officers in Bunkerville, Nevada, in 2014, and at a national wildlife refuge in Oregon in 2016.
The indictment, attached to the commission’s decision, details Fiore’s alleged fraud, in which she is accused of using more than $70,000 in donations for the memorial for personal use.
Fiore was serving as a Las Vegas councilwoman when the alleged fraud occurred. She served on the council from 2017 to 2022.
Fiore is accused of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, crimes that each carry a possible penalty of 20 years in prison.
The grand jury was told Fiore promised to use 100% of the contributions she solicited to erect a statue in a city park to honor two Metro Police officers killed in the line of duty in June 2014.
“Fiore did not use any of the tens of thousands of dollars in charitable donations for the statue, and instead converted the money to her personal use,” prosecutors said in a news release.
The indictment references checks prosecutors said diverted money to pay Fiore’s political fundraising bills, rent and for a daughter’s wedding.
Fiore was appointed in December 2022 to serve as one of two justices of the peace in Pahrump, an hour’s drive west of Las Vegas.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.