San Diego nonprofit leader Amy Knox charged with stealing $130K in fentanyl grant funds for personal expenses, despite prior theft and no background check.

A San Diego nonprofit executive, Amy Knox, 45, has been charged with embezzling over $130,000 in public grant funds meant to fight fentanyl overdoses, using the money for plastic surgery, vacations, and personal bills. She previously served time for stealing over $500,000 and was hired without a background check despite her criminal history. The county later awarded her organization another contract after a delayed check revealed her past. The district attorney’s office said oversight failures allowed the fraud, and an investigation is ongoing. Knox, who pleaded not guilty, faces up to seven years in prison.