Ex-Las Vegas City Council member charged in charity fraud scheme – Washington Examiner
A former Las Vegas City Council member, Michele Fiore, has been indicted for an alleged charity fraud scheme involving soliciting donations to build a statue honoring Las Vegas police officers killed on the job. Federal authorities stated that Fiore promised donors that 100% of their contributions would go towards the statue, but instead used the funds for personal expenses. Fiore is facing multiple charges, including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and money laundering. If convicted, she could face significant fines and a lengthy prison sentence.
The indictment alleges that Fiore and her co-conspirators created a fake charity, called “Veterans Village Las Vegas,” to solicit donations for the statue project. They reportedly used the charity’s bank account to pay for personal expenses, including Fiore’s rent and credit card bills.
Authorities began investigating Fiore after receiving complaints from donors who had not seen any progress on the statue project despite making significant contributions. The indictment also accuses Fiore of providing false information to donors about the project’s status and using fake invoices to cover up the misuse of funds.
Fiore has denied the allegations and maintains her innocence. Her defense team argues that the funds were used for legitimate charitable purposes and that the charges are politically motivated.
The case has drawn significant attention in the Las Vegas community, where Fiore was a well-known figure before leaving office in 2017. Many residents are shocked and disappointed by the allegations against her, as she had presented herself as a champion for law enforcement and veterans during her time in office.
The trial is set to begin in the coming months, and Fiore will have the opportunity to present her case in court. In the meantime, she remains free on bail but is prohibited from soliciting donations or engaging in any charitable activities.
Former Las Vegas City Council member indicted in charity fraud scheme
(The Center Square) – A former Las Vegas City Council member has been indicted for what the Department of Justice called an alleged charity fraud scheme.
Federal authorities said in a news release that 53-year-old Michele Fiore solicited donations to build a statue honoring Las Vegas police officers killed on the job.
“Fiore allegedly promised donors that ‘100% of the contributions’ would be used towards the creation of this statue,” the Department of Justice (DOJ) said. “As alleged, Fiore did not use any of the tens of thousands of dollars in charitable donations for the statue of the fallen officer and instead converted the money to her personal use.”
According to the DOJ, donations were instead used to pay Fiore’s political fundraising bills and rent. The DOJ said funds were also transferred to members of Fiore’s family members and were also used to pay for Fiores’ daughter’s wedding.
While stating that an indictment is “merely an allegation” and reminding people that “all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty,” DOJ said Fiore is charged with four counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
“If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count,” said the DOJ.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) ‘s Las Vegas Field Office is investigating.
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