Michele Fiore (photo, left; profile here), 54, a former Nevada state representative and failed candidate for state treasurer, was convicted on federal wire fraud charges on October 3, 2024, and could spend years in prison (read story here).
Fiore, a controversial figure in Nevada politics, got in trouble by raising over $70,000 of donations for a statue of a Las Vegas police officer killed in the line of duty, then using the money for personal expenses including plastic surgery, rent, and her daughter’s wedding, according to prosecutors.
She was a prominent supporter of rogue rancher Cliven Bundy, his son’s takeover of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge in Oregon (details here), has talked about shooting cops, and was a tax scofflaw, according to her Wikipedia profile linked above.
After she lost the state treasurer election, far-right commissioners in a small rural Nevada county appointed her as a justice of the peace, even though she isn’t a lawyer and has no legal training. She was suspended from that position without pay after being indicted on the fraud charges.
Wikipedia says, “She is currently the Nevada Republican Party national committeewoman responsible for fund-raising in the state.”