COO steals $132,000 in public cash and blows it on plastic surgeries, Disneyland trip: Cops

A nonprofit executive is accused of stealing $132,000 in public money to pay for plastic surgeries, credit card bills and luxury vacations — including a trip to Disneyland.

Amy Knox, who was COO of Harm Reduction Coalition of San Diego, allegedly blew up to $30,000 of the cash on breast implants, a tummy tuck and arm and thigh lifts.

The 45-year-old spent another $94,000 on buying purebred dogs, training them, martial arts classes and a trip to Hawaii, prosecutors claim.

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

The alleged fraudster, who also went by the names Amy Hernandez and Amy Ketchum, had been living in a palatial $1.3 million home in Alpine, San Diego, and also owned a second home.

The cash had been earmarked for free anti-overdose medication and fentanyl tests for drug users in the city, raised by tax contributions and philanthropic grants.

Harm Reduction Coalition CEO Tara Stamos-Buesig told the California Post she first noticed Knox’s theft of public funds in May.

She said: “She was in the office when she was recovering from her surgeries. I had no idea that she was using the money from the organization pay for it.”

She then tipped off the DA’s office, which launched its investigation, prompting the county to cancel its contracts.

Stamos-Buesig said her nonprofit has been decimated by the end of the county’s contracts and she has been forced to make layoffs due to the loss of funds.

She added: “‘It’s going to be really hard to recover. My organization’s gutted.” The County of San Diego awarded the Harm Reduction Coalition two contracts worth more than more than $11 million.

The County canceled those contracts in June when the DA’s office began its investigation of the Coalition, prosectors revealed.

Knox was arrested last week on six felony counts of fraud and misappropriation and faces up to seven years in prison. She is being held on $250,000 bail.

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said Wednesday: “It’s sickening that this fraudster decided to line her own pockets, pay for luxury trips and cosmetic plastic surgeries, with these precious, potentially life saving dollars.

“It is also deeply concerning that the checks and balance and balances that are supposed to safeguard the county’s large budget, and trust funds failed.”

Stephan said Knox has a previous conviction for embezzling $500,000 from a prior employer but still had complete control of the Harm Reduction Coalition of San Diego’s finances.

Her lawyer could not be reached for comment.