San Diego Nonprofit COO Accused of Stealing $132K in Public Funds for Plastic Surgery, Disneyland Trips

Amy Knox pleaded not guilty to charges of fraud and misappropriation of funds meant for overdose prevention programs.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Amy Knox, the former Chief Operating Officer of the Harm Reduction Coalition of San Diego, has been accused of stealing $132,000 in public funds to finance a lavish lifestyle that included plastic surgeries, luxury vacations, and purchasing purebred dogs. Knox pleaded not guilty to six felony counts of fraud and misappropriation and faces up to seven years in prison.

Why it matters

The alleged theft of public funds intended for life-saving overdose prevention programs has drawn outrage from the community and raised concerns about oversight and accountability within nonprofit organizations. The case also highlights the need for thorough background checks and financial controls to prevent such misuse of taxpayer money.

The details

According to prosecutors, Knox, who also went by the names Amy Hernandez and Amy Ketchum, allegedly spent the stolen funds on breast implants, breast lifts, a tummy tuck, and arm and thigh lifts, as well as trips to Hawaii and Disneyland. The money was supposed to be used to provide free anti-overdose medication and fentanyl test strips to drug users in San Diego. Knox's former boss, Tara Stamos-Buesig, the CEO of the Harm Reduction Coalition, has said she has received threatening phone calls since Knox's arrest, with people claiming Knox is innocent and that Stamos-Buesig is the "bad person."

  • On Wednesday, February 19, 2026, Knox pleaded not guilty to the charges in San Diego State Supreme Court.
  • Knox's bail was set at $200,000, and she was remanded in custody at the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry jail facility on Thursday, February 20, 2026.
  • Knox is due back in court on February 25, 2026, for a bail hearing.

The players

Amy Knox

The former Chief Operating Officer of the Harm Reduction Coalition of San Diego, who is accused of stealing $132,000 in public funds to finance a lavish lifestyle.

Tara Stamos-Buesig

The CEO of the Harm Reduction Coalition of San Diego, who reported Knox's alleged theft to the District Attorney's office and has since received threatening phone calls.

Richard Katzman

The attorney representing Amy Knox.

Summer Stephan

The San Diego District Attorney, who blamed the County for failing to notice that Knox had been previously charged with taking over $500,000 from a prior employer.

Tammy Glenn

A spokeswoman for the San Diego County, who stated that the County took all reports of fraud, waste, and abuse seriously and referred information to the District Attorney's office.

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What they’re saying

“I've been receiving tons of threatening phone calls. They're saying that Amy is innocent and it's all my fault, and I'm the one that's bad person.”

— Tara Stamos-Buesig, CEO, Harm Reduction Coalition of San Diego (California Post)

“The County takes all reports of fraud, waste and abuse seriously. County staff referred information to the District Attorney's office and continues to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.”

— Tammy Glenn, Spokeswoman, San Diego County (nypost.com)

“The nonprofit leadership would bear the first line of responsibility here.”

— David Luna, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, San Diego Mesa College (nypost.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday, February 25, 2026, whether or not to allow Amy Knox out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of strong financial controls and oversight within nonprofit organizations, as well as the need for thorough background checks on key personnel. The alleged misuse of public funds intended for life-saving programs has eroded public trust and underscores the responsibility of nonprofit leaders to ensure their organizations are operating with integrity and transparency.