Gov. Lombardo testifies in Michele Fiore’s federal wire fraud trial

Gov. Joe Lombardo took the witness stand on Monday, answering tense questions from Michele Fiore’s defense attorney in her trial on wire fraud and conspiracy charges.

The governor is one of multiple high-profile donors that prosecutors said gave money to Fiore for the construction of a statue honoring a fallen Metropolitan Police Department officer. Fiore, a former Las Vegas councilwoman who recently served as a Pahrump justice of the peace, is accused of then using that money on personal expenses.

“Are you looking for help?” Fiore’s attorney, Michael Sanft, asked when the governor looked toward federal prosecutors while being questioned.

“Yeah, I’m looking for help …” Lombardo said. “I’m failing to understand why I’m being asked these questions when I’m a victim and a witness.”

Sanft questioned Lombardo about his decision-making process while donating to political campaigns. He also questioned Lombardo about how he used money left over from his campaigns for Clark County sheriff in order to run for governor, a process that is allowed in state law.

Lombardo told Sanft that the donation he made for the statue came from his campaign account, not his personal money.

“Technically, you’re not the victim here, right?” Sanft said.

“I don’t understand the question,” Lombardo answered.

Lombardo declined to speak with a reporter after he testified for about 30 minutes.

Fiore is accused of raising tens of thousands of dollars for a statue to honor Metro officer Alyn Beck, who was killed with his partner in 2014, and then spending the money on personal expenses such as rent, plastic surgery and payments for her daughter’s wedding.

Fiore pleaded not guilty after she was indicted in July on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy.

Prosecutors on Monday showed jurors a $5,000 check that Lombardo’s campaign sent to Fiore’s PAC, Future for Nevadans.

Lombardo recalled that Fiore told him she was raising money for the Alyn Beck statue.

Later in the day, an FBI agent who analyzed Fiore’s bank records testified that she tracked the deposited donation from Lombardo to a rent payment Fiore made on the same day. The agent testified that after Lombardo’s donation was sent to the PAC account, the amount was transferred to Fiore’s daughter’s account and was then used to purchase a money order for Fiore’s rent.

The agent also traced several other donations submitted to Fiore’s accounts, and subsequent payments Fiore made for rent and payments on her other daughter’s wedding. The agent testified that for multiple payments, Fiore did not have enough money in her personal account to cover various costs the agent tracked.

The sculptor of the Alyn Beck statue, Brian Hanlon, has previously testified that he received no payments from Fiore for the statue.

The sculpture was instead paid for by Olympia Companies, which developed the park as part of the Skye Canyon planned community, according to Chris Armstrong, an executive with the company who testified on Monday.

Armstrong said the company initially intended to pay for half the statue but later told the city it would cover the entire cost.

“I think it was a gesture on our behalf to show our respect and honor the officer,” Armstrong testified.

Under cross-examination, Armstrong testified about a meeting during which he said Fiore was told the statue’s costs would be covered. But he could not give exact details and did not have paper documentation of the meeting.

“I’m telling you what I remember,” Armstrong said.

Prosecutors rested their case on Monday, and Sanft began calling his own witnesses. On Monday afternoon, he began questioning Sheena Siegel, one of Fiore’s daughters.

Siegel spoke about helping her mother create a charity account but said she did not consult accountants or attorneys when researching requirements for reporting contributions and expenses.

The trial is expected to continue Tuesday with additional testimony from Siegel.

Contact Katelyn Newberg at knewberg@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0240.