A former executive at a San Diego nonprofit has pleaded not guilty to charges that she stole more than $130,000 in public funds intended to combat the opioid crisis and instead spent the money on cosmetic surgery, vacations and other personal expenses.
Amy Knox, 45, who served as chief operating officer of the Harm Reduction Coalition of San Diego, was arraigned Wednesday in San Diego Superior Court. Prosecutors have charged her with six felony counts, including fraud and misappropriation of funds. If convicted, she could face up to seven years in prison. Bail was set at $200,000, and Knox remains in custody at the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility. She is scheduled to return to court for a bail hearing on Feb. 25.
Authorities allege that Knox diverted approximately $132,000 from the nonprofit, which receives taxpayer dollars, grant funding and opioid settlement money. The funds were meant to provide free overdose-reversal medication and fentanyl testing supplies to drug users in the community.
Instead, prosecutors claim Knox used the money to support a high-end lifestyle. According to allegations, she spent roughly $30,000 on cosmetic procedures, including breast augmentation and lifts, a tummy tuck, and arm and thigh lifts. She is also accused of using nonprofit funds to cover credit card bills, pay for travel to Hawaii and Disneyland, purchase purebred dogs and enroll in martial arts classes.
Knox, who has also gone by the names Amy Hernandez and Amy Ketchum, appeared in court looking subdued, standing behind a protective partition during the hearing. Her attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The allegations surfaced after Harm Reduction Coalition CEO Tara Stamos-Buesig alerted the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office in May. Stamos-Buesig said she became concerned about financial irregularities and brought the information to authorities, prompting an investigation.
San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan credited Stamos-Buesig’s tip as a key factor in launching the probe. Stephan also criticized county officials for failing to identify Knox’s prior criminal history before awarding contracts to the nonprofit. Court records show Knox previously pleaded guilty in 2015 to felony grand theft charges related to taking more than $500,000 from a former employer. She served prison time in that case.
Following the new allegations, San Diego County terminated contracts with the Harm Reduction Coalition worth more than $11 million. A county spokesperson said the decision was made in June and emphasized that the county takes reports of fraud and misuse of public funds seriously. Officials said they are cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
The fallout has been severe for the nonprofit. Stamos-Buesig said the organization has effectively collapsed since she reported Knox to authorities. She stated that contracts were canceled weeks after she contacted the district attorney, forcing her to lay off staff. She also claimed she is now facing financial hardship and has fallen behind on rent.
Stamos-Buesig said Knox had disclosed a prior arrest when she was hired but described it as minor and indicated she had moved past it. She said she trusted Knox and believed she was acting in good faith.
The case has also sparked backlash. Stamos-Buesig said she has received threatening phone calls from people who believe Knox is innocent and blame her for the situation. She noted that Knox has longstanding ties within San Diego’s recovery community and that her husband is connected to the local biker scene.
Property records show Knox and her husband purchased a nearly 3,000-square-foot home in San Diego in 2023 for more than $1.3 million.
As the legal proceedings move forward, the case highlights concerns about oversight of public funds and background checks within nonprofit organizations entrusted with taxpayer money.
