Former San Diego nonprofit COO faces felony charges over alleged misuse of public funds for personal expenses

Allegations center on spending tied to a county-funded overdose prevention contractor

A former chief operating officer of a San Diego County nonprofit previously tasked with distributing naloxone and conducting drug-checking services has been charged with multiple felonies after investigators alleged she used the organization’s funds for personal purchases, including cosmetic surgery and shopping.

Amy Knox was arrested on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, and booked into jail, according to court filings tied to the arrest warrant. Prosecutors filed three felony counts of misappropriation of public money and three felony counts of fraudulent appropriation. Knox was scheduled to appear in San Diego Superior Court on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026.

What investigators allege was purchased with nonprofit funds

The investigation focuses on financial activity at the Harm Reduction Coalition of San Diego, a nonprofit that held county contracts intended to support overdose prevention amid the region’s fentanyl crisis. The arrest warrant alleges the nonprofit’s accounts—described in filings as backed largely by county and philanthropic funding—were used to pay for a range of personal expenses.

• Approximately $30,000 in payments tied to cosmetic procedures, including breast implants and a lift, arm and thigh lifts, and a tummy tuck.
• More than $10,200 in payments toward San Diego Gas & Electric bills.
• Nearly $94,000 in credit card payments alleged to reflect personal spending, including travel and retail purchases.

Investigators further alleged that the credit card payments appeared to cover personal expenses rather than organizational needs. The warrant also cited transactions described as payments to Knox and her husband.

Timeline: contract cancellations and the start of scrutiny

The charges follow months of turmoil around the nonprofit’s relationship with San Diego County. County officials ended the organization’s contracts in June 2025 using a termination-for-convenience provision, meaning the county did not cite a specific contract breach as the basis for ending the agreements.

Within the nonprofit, questions about banking activity surfaced around the same period. Court filings indicate the organization’s leadership contacted prosecutors after noticing what were described as suspicious withdrawals, including payments for cosmetic surgery. Knox left the organization in late May 2025 as questions were being raised about the nonprofit’s finances.

Prior conviction referenced in court filings

The arrest warrant referenced Knox’s prior criminal case history, including a past embezzlement conviction and subsequent guilty pleas in 2015 to two felony grand theft counts. Prosecutors argued the prior record, combined with the alleged amount at issue, supported a higher bail request than is typical for the charged offenses.

Knox has pleaded not guilty to the new allegations to date in publicly available reporting, and the criminal case remains pending. As with all criminal proceedings, the charges are allegations that must be proven in court.

Broader implications for public contracting and oversight

The case has renewed attention on how public agencies and nonprofit contractors manage large-scale, time-sensitive public health programs. County statements made during earlier scrutiny of the nonprofit emphasized that contractors are expected to maintain and follow their own background-check policies, while the county conducts orientations and monitoring as part of standard contract oversight.

Separately from the criminal case, county officials have said naloxone remains available through other county-funded programs and community providers, following the termination of the nonprofit’s contracts.