LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Under intense grilling by federal prosecutors Tuesday, Sheena Siegel, the daughter of Michele Fiore, repeatedly pleaded the Fifth – exercising her constitutional right to avoid incriminating herself – when she was on the stand in her mother’s defense.
Fiore, a now-suspended Pahrump Justice of the Peace, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and six counts of wire fraud.
Fiore previously pleaded not guilty to the original charges filed in July and subsequent charges filed earlier this month.
Those additional federal charges included a co-conspirator, identified as “person A.”
Based on testimony in the federal case against Fiore, it seemed more apparent that Siegel could be “person A.”
“Person A, an individual who resided in the state of Nevada, is a relative and co-conspirator of Fiore who received a portion of the fraudulent proceeds and served as a conduit to conceal the means and methods of Fiore’s fraud by receiving payment from entities controlled by Fiore and spending those proceeds to benefit the conspirators,” the indictment stated.
Prosecutors alleged Fiore raised money for a statue for slain Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Officer Alyn Beck and instead spent approximately $70,000 on personal expenses like rent.
An FBI forensic accountant testified Monday that Fiore wrote checks to Siegel who would then cash them.
Fiore’s defense attorney Michael Sanft reviewed photos with Siegel as she explained that she often used cash for purchases like toys for needy children, birthday cards for constituents, and events for constituents like ice cream socials.
A federal prosecutor began cross-examination Tuesday by asking Siegel if she loved her mother and if she’d want to see her get convicted. Siegel responded that she loved her mother and did not want to see her get convicted.
Siegel testified she received more than $83,000 in checks from her mother’s city council campaign to her personal bank account. She said the money was not deposited in her bank account because she cashed the checks. The prosecutor displayed several checks, including a February 2018 check for $1500. Siegel said she may have written the check to herself and admitted it was not legal. When the prosecutor asked Siegel if she was admitting to committing a federal crime, Fiore slammed her hand on a desk and quickly apologized.
U.S. District Court Jennifer Dorsey quickly excused the jury and asked Siegel if she had an attorney. While Siegel’s attorney was out of the state, a federal public defender showed up to represent her.
When Siegel returned to the stand, she repeatedly pleaded the fifth.
Prosecutors said Seigel’s testimony during the trial was different from her testimony in front of the grand jury. Attorneys were expected to discuss whether her testimony would remain part of the trial as well as whether Siegel could face charges on Wednesday morning.
Sanft said Tuesday he planned on calling no additional witnesses other than Fiore herself, but this was also expected to be addressed Wednesday morning.
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo took the stand on Monday.
Lombardo was the assistant sheriff when Officer Alyn Beck and Officer Igor Soldo were killed in 2014. His campaign, “Lombardo for Sheriff” donated $5,000 for the statue in 2019.
Lombardo recalled donating to Fiore’s various political campaigns. They are both Republicans.
Chris Armstrong, an executive vice president with Olympia Companies, a developer, testified Monday that the company initially agreed to pay for half of the statue and then paid for the entire statue. Armstrong said Fiore was informed of this.
The government rested its case before noon on Monday.
The allegations against Fiore date back to when she was a Las Vegas City councilwoman in 2019, according to the indictment.
Fiore most recently served on the bench in Pahrump Justice Court in Nye County. The Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline suspended her from judicial office with salary on July 24. The commission shall suspend a judge with salary while there is a pending felony indictment, per Nevada state law. Fiore’s term ends in January 2025.
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 Clive Bundy, making insensitive racial comments that resulted in an NAACP complaint, and engaging in a physical fight with another city council member.
