Michele Fiore, a Las Vegas woman known as “Lady Trump” for her right-wing views, has requested a judge to overturn her wire fraud conviction, arguing that a series of errors deprived her of a fair trial.
Fiore was convicted in October on six counts of wire fraud after a jury found that she had defrauded donors who contributed to a charity intended to honor a fallen police officer. Prosecutors alleged that while serving on the city council, she solicited donations for a statue in memory of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officer Alyn Beck, who was killed in the line of duty in 2014. Donors were assured that all contributions would be used for the statue’s creation.
However, prosecutors claimed that Fiore misused the donations, totaling over $70,000, for personal expenses, including political fundraising bills, rent, and even her daughter’s wedding.
During the trial, a pivotal moment occurred when Fiore’s daughter, Sheena Siegel, took the stand as a defense witness. Siegel testified that despite having no formal background in charity or campaign work, she assisted her mother with related matters. She stated that she had researched relevant laws and found them to be lenient. However, when she later admitted to signing a check from a political action committee to her personal account, the judge advised her to consider obtaining legal counsel, as she might have implicated herself in a federal crime. Her testimony was subsequently stricken from the record, and a jury took only hours to convict Fiore.
Following her conviction, Fiore filed motions in January requesting an acquittal or a new trial, arguing that several trial errors unfairly influenced the outcome. She contended that Siegel’s immunity agreement was improperly revoked, which led to her invoking her Fifth Amendment right, preventing key testimony from being heard. The motion asserted that this decision severely prejudiced her case, as Siegel could have provided evidence contradicting the prosecution’s claims about the misuse of funds.
Fiore’s legal team also challenged the government’s handling of Siegel’s immunity agreement, arguing that only the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada had the authority to revoke it. The motion accused prosecutors of attempting to catch Siegel in a lie and misleading the court regarding her immunity status. Additionally, it claimed that the court was unaware of the immunity agreement until after Siegel had testified.
Another argument raised in the motion was that the trial judge improperly excluded evidence suggesting vindictive or selective prosecution. Fiore’s attorneys also criticized the inclusion of testimony from Nicole Beck, the widow of the fallen officer, asserting that it served only to provoke an emotional response from the jury rather than provide relevant facts. They further argued that the jury had been given incorrect instructions, further compromising the fairness of the trial.
Federal prosecutors opposed Fiore’s motion, maintaining that Siegel’s testimony was handled appropriately and that the government did not intentionally entrap her into admitting to a federal crime. They also defended the decision to allow testimony from Nicole Beck, arguing that it was relevant to the case.
A judge has heard arguments regarding Fiore’s request and is expected to issue a ruling at a later date. In the meantime, she remains free under the current terms of her release. Her sentencing is scheduled for April 14, and she faces a potential maximum sentence of 20 years for each wire fraud count.
