On Monday, October 21, 2024, the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline suspended Michele Fiore from her position as a judge without pay following her conviction for fraud. The suspension comes after a federal jury found Fiore guilty of diverting funds intended for a memorial statue of a slain Las Vegas police officer for her personal use.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Judge Michele Fiore,” with case number 2024-ADM-02.
Fiore, a Republican who previously ran for Nevada state treasurer, faced a hearing last week that led to the decision announced on Monday. The commission had initially placed her on paid suspension after her indictment in July on charges related to federal wire fraud and conspiracy.
The jury’s verdict was delivered on October 3, 2024, after a weeklong trial at the U.S. District Court in Las Vegas. The court revealed that Fiore had misappropriated approximately $70,000 donated for the statue of one of two police officers who were killed in the line of duty in June 2014. Evidence presented during the trial indicated that she used portions of these funds to pay for personal expenses, including cosmetic surgery, rent, and her daughter’s wedding.
Fiore, who is 54 years old, has a political background that includes service as a member of the Nevada State Assembly and the Las Vegas City Council. She was appointed to her judgeship by Nye County lawmakers in 2022 after her unsuccessful bid for the state treasurer position. In June 2024, she was elected to complete the term of a judge who passed away.
Currently, Fiore is free while awaiting her sentencing, which is scheduled for January 6, 2025. She faces significant legal consequences, potentially including decades in federal prison. Following the jury’s decision, her former attorney indicated that Fiore plans to appeal the conviction.
Fiore has been a controversial figure in Nevada politics, noted for her advocacy of gun rights and her support for states’ rights, particularly during armed confrontations in 2014 and 2016 involving Cliven Bundy and federal authorities in Bunkerville, Nevada, and a national wildlife refuge in Oregon, respectively.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
