LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A group responsible for investigating judicial misconduct in the state of Nevada set a public hearing regarding the suspension of Pahrump Justice of the Peace Michele Fiore more than a week after she was convicted of seven counts in a federal wire fraud case.
The Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline already suspended Fiore from judicial office with salary on July 24. The commission intends to suspend Fiore without pay at an Oct. 18 hearing, according to documents reviewed by the 8 News Now Investigators.
A jury returned a guilty verdict for one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and six counts of wire fraud on Oct. 3. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.
The jury returned with the verdicts less than two hours after the case went to deliberation.
Fiore’s attorney, Michael Sanft withdrew from the case on Oct. 8. according to court records.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel Albregts appointed attorney Paola Armeni to represent Fiore in an Oct. 10 order.
“The court finds that the individual is indigent,” the order stated.
Fiore is scheduled to appear for sentencing on Jan. 6, 2025, at 1:35 p.m. She remains free after prosecutors declined to ask the court to take her into custody following the verdict. Instead, prosecutors indicated they would ask for electronic monitoring.
U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer Dorsey told Fiore she was under the same restrictions as pretrial.
Fiore raised more than $70,000 for a statue to remember Las Vegas Metro Police Officer Alyn Beck but then spent the money on personal expenses. Beck and Officer Igor Soldo were killed in the line of duty in 2014.
The allegations against Fiore date back to when she was a Las Vegas City councilwoman in 2019, according to the indictment.
The commission suspended Fiore with salary while the felony indictment was pending, per Nevada state law. Fiore’s term ends in January 2025.
Fiore made an unsuccessful run for Nevada state treasurer in 2022.
Fiore served in the Nevada Legislature, and on the Las Vegas City Council as a member and then mayor pro-tem. She also ran unsuccessfully for the governor’s seat and state treasurer. Her political career has been peppered with controversy that included support for an anti-government movement involving rancher Cliven Bundy, making insensitive racial comments that resulted in an NAACP complaint, and engaging in a physical fight with another city council member.
The 8 News Now Investigators reached out to a Nye County spokesperson late Sunday night about Fiore’s Justice of the Peace position and salary.
