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Photo of news conference at the DA's Office as DA Summer Stephan announces charges against Amy Knox for embezzlement of county funds.

Ex-Convict with Record of Embezzlement Charged with Misappropriation of Public Money for Using County Consumer Opioid Settlement Grant Funds for Plastic Surgery, Vacations, and Personal Expenses

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced charges today against a woman who was previously convicted of stealing over $500,000 from her employer. Her latest scheme involved bilking San Diego County out of more than $130,000 to fund her lavish lifestyle including two cosmetic plastic surgeries, luxury vacations, SDG&E bills for her personal homes, home improvement, and martial arts training. [WATCH THE NEWS CONFERENCE HERE]

Amy J. Knox, 45, has been charged with three felony counts of misappropriating public money and three felony counts of embezzlement with the white-collar fraud allegation for great taking from the over $4 million consumer protection monies awarded by San Diego County to the nonprofit organization Harm Reduction-SD. The funds were part of the over $50 billion secured by The California Attorney General as part of nationwide settlements and bankruptcy agreements from corporations implicated in the opioid epidemic. These consumer funds obtained from opioid settlements, were intended to increase prevention and treatment and reduce fentanyl deaths in the County.

“This defendant had a history of stealing large amounts of money from her employer and violating their trust, yet she was still able to be in charge of millions of dollars in public funds,” DA Stephan said. “Checks and balances exist for a reason, yet there was no evidence of a background check. Even after professional county staff raised concerns, County officials awarded a second contract to Harm Reduction-SD, allowing this defendant to line her pockets with public funds.”

From July 2022 to June 2025, Knox served in the chief operating officer role for Harm Reduction-SD. She controlled the nonprofit’s finances and was designated as the contract administrator for the County contracts, serving as the main liaison between Harm Reduction-SD and County contracting officials. Knox was responsible for oversight of the naloxone distribution, managing payroll, tax filings, vendor contracting, and supplies management.

Harm Reduction-SD received $4.2 million from the County’s Health and Human Services Agency, Behavioral Health Services Department. The first contract in July 2022 was for Naloxone distribution. The second contract in August 2024 was for drug checking. This service was to check for the presence of fentanyl in illegal street drugs that community members in homeless encampments planned to ingest.

In January 2023, a concerned citizen alerted the County that Harm Reduction-SD CEO, Tara Stamos, was storing Narcan (opioid overdose reversal medication) under a tarp in her East County front yard in 100-degree weather. In April 2023, a financial audit completed by the county’s professional employees uncovered significant financial control weaknesses, including insufficient bank reconciliations and a deficient general ledger.

The County then discovered that Knox had previous embezzlement convictions. Less than a year later in August 2024, Harm Reduction-SD was awarded the second contract.

During her embezzlement of public funds, Knox made thousands of purchases for personal items and services on at least four personal credit cards. From January 2024 to May 2025, she used Harm Reduction-SD’s checking account to pay off her monthly credit card balances via electronic bank transfers. Her personal expenses on these cards included trips to Hawaii and Disneyland, high end women’s clothing and cosmetics, various streaming service subscriptions, home improvement expenses, purebred dogs and dog training, and martial arts training. The total amount was more than $90,000.

In addition to paying off her credit cards, from October 2023 to May 2025, Knox embezzled over $10,000 in public funds to pay the SDG&E bills on two of her residential properties. She also used embezzled public funds to pay for $30,000 worth of full body cosmetic surgery.

Knox’s fraud came to light when she began to accuse Harm Reduction-SD’s CEO, Tara Stamos of malfeasance. Stamos responded by reporting to the District Attorney’s Office that she had discovered unauthorized transactions by Knox. The DA’s Special Operations Division, which has a premier Public Integrity Unit, began the investigation that resulted in these charges. The investigation is ongoing to determine how this malfeasance occurred, why it was allowed to continue and to prevent it from happening again.

The County terminated both Harm Reduction-SD contracts in June 2025.

“When the county terminated the contract, there was no referral for criminal investigation to the DA’s Public Corruption Unit, as has been done by Board leadership in prior instances of suspected malfeasance,” DA Stephan said. “Consumer protection funds are public dollars that should be safeguarded. They are the public’s funds that must be treated with transparency and accountability.”

If any County employees in charge of public funds have information about suspected malfeasance, they should feel comfortable coming forward to report their concerns to the District Attorney’s Office. Under whistleblower laws, they will be protected.

“Whistleblowing is an important part of public safety,” DA Stephan said. “It is often the first line of defense against corruption and misuse of public funds.”

The District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes cases involving elected or appointed public officials, government employees committing crimes on the job, misuse of public funds or resources, fraud on the court and attorney misconduct. County employees or the public can submit a complaint on our website: https://www.sdcda.org/preventing/public-integrity/ or by emailing DA Public Integrity Unit at SDDAPublicIntegrity@sandiegoda.gov.

Deputy District Attorney Matthew Dix is prosecuting this case, and DA Investigator Mark Kelley conducted the investigation.

Knox was arraigned today and pleaded not guilty. Her bail was set at $200,000 and a bail review hearing is set for February 25 at 8:30 a.m. in Department 101. A readiness hearing is set for April 1 at 8:15 a.m. in Department 1102. [WATCH THE NEWS CONFERENCE HERE]

Photo of Deputy DA Danielle Hall.

Meet Deputy DA Danielle Hall

In honor of Black History Month, which is celebrated throughout the month of February, the DA’s Office is featuring stories of employees and what inspired them to pursue a career in public service.

Meet Deputy District Attorney Danielle Hall, who has been with the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office since 2018, when she began an internship at our office. She was officially hired as a Graduate Law Clerk in 2020 and was sworn in as a Deputy District Attorney in June 2021. Danielle was born and raised in Long Beach, California and this was her first job out of law school. She is currently assigned to the Superior Court Division’s Felony Trial team, where she handles felony trials and she is also one of the intern/GLC coordinators. A fun fact about Danielle is that she has a background in singing and acting.

What inspired you to choose a career in law enforcement/at the DA’s Office?  

“Both my parents were DDAs in Los Angeles County. I grew up seeing how passionate they were about their jobs, and I wanted to follow in their footsteps.”

What is your favorite part of the job?  

“Being able to seek justice for victims and make our community safe.”

What does Black History Month mean to you, why is it important to you? 

“Black History is important to me because it is inseparable from who I am. Throughout my life, I have seen how Black History is not only about the past, but about resilience. Honoring Black history means recognizing both the progress made and the work that remains. During Black History month, I am often reminded of Maya Angelou’s words, ‘I am the hope and the dream of the slave’. That quote resonates deeply with me and serves as a reminder of the legacy I honor and the responsibility I carry.”

 

Photo of Deputy District Attorney Deborah La Touche.

Meet Deputy DA Deborah La Touche

In honor of Black History Month, which is celebrated throughout the month of February, the DA’s Office is featuring stories of employees and what inspired them to pursue a career in public service.

Meet Deputy District Attorney Deborah La Touche, who has been working at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office since 2004. She was born in the Bahamas and raised in Toronto, Canada. Prior to joining the DA’s Office, she was a Public Defender at the San Diego Public Defender’s Office. She is currently assigned to the Major Narcotics Unit but has worked in all the branches of the DA’s Office, including Family Protection and Insurance Fraud divisions. Currently, the bulk of her cases in the Major Narcotics Unit include drug trafficking and drug sales involving hard drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamines, fentanyl, and heroin.

What inspired you to choose a career in law enforcement/at the DA’s Office?  

“There were several wonderful Judges who mentored me and urged me to consider the DA’s Office. When the opportunity to apply at the DA’s Office became open, I applied and was thrilled to be considered for a position. It was a great career move on many levels as I was able to expand my legal skills, work closely with victims, and pivot into various specialized areas of criminal law. Moreover, I was impressed with the community service work that the office does, and I had the privilege of heading up the Project LEAD program and spearheading the Success Agents program at the Juvenile Branch.”

What is your favorite part of the job?  

“Every day is different and the job itself entails so much, that I don’t think there’s one favorite aspect of the job—maybe that’s what I enjoy so much—the variety.”

What does Black History Month mean to you, why is it important to you? 

“I am impressed by the rich history that African Americans have made here in the USA—from building the White House to inventing peanut butter that is a staple in almost every household. As an attorney I appreciate the legacy that was built by Martin Luther King, Jr., Justice Thurgood Marshall, and Charles Hamilton Houston before him. They, along with countless others helped to lay the groundwork for me to witness history being made when the first African American man, Barack Obama, was elected as the 44th President of the United States. And later when the first woman of color, Kamala Harris, was elected as Vice President of the United States. We have a rich history in this country, and it is important that we celebrate it not only during Black History Month, but throughout the year.”

 

Photo of 1975 Cold Case murder victim Edmund Lafave.

Defendant Arraigned for Cold Case Murder that Occurred More than Half a Century Ago

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that a killer who murdered a man in his North Park home more than 50 years ago has been extradited from the Midwest and today was arraigned on a charge of murder. 71-year-old Johnnie Salisbury was arraigned in San Diego Superior Court after being arrested in Indiana last month and extradited to San Diego to be held accountable for his crime.

In 1975, Salisbury brutally beat and stabbed 34-year-old Edmund LaFave in his own home on Suncrest avenue. LaFave’s lifeless body was found in a pool of blood in his bedroom at his residence in the 2900 block of Suncrest Drive on February 25, 1975.

“Sometimes we have to wait decades to deliver justice on behalf of a murder victim, but the key is to never give up on justice,” said DA Stephan. “This defendant got away with murder for more than half a century, but thanks to the dedication of law enforcement is now being held to account for his brutal crime. This is an outstanding example of how modern science, combined with a commitment to solving cold case murders, can lead to a just result. I want to thank the entire team who worked on this case and never gave up searching for this killer.”

Various cold case investigators reviewed the case over the years but were not able to identify a suspect. Despite the exhaustive investigation at the onset of the case, the investigation eventually went cold. However, the District Attorney’s grant-funded Cold Homicide and Research Genealogy Effort (CHARGE) working with our law enforcement partners at the San Diego Police Department were able to provide investigators with the information they needed to solve the case.

The DA credited DA Cold Case Unit lead prosecutor Chris Lindberg, genealogist Laura Tanney, as well as District Attorney Investigators Tony Johnson, Ryan Gremillion, Lisa Williams and SDPD detectives for their outstanding work on the case. Experts at the SDPD Crime Lab were then able to match the defendant’s fingerprints to the crime scene, including prints found on a bloody clothes iron used to beat the victim.

CHARGE is funded by the Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA grant from the US DOJ.  Providing $533,000 over three years, this grant enables forensic investigative genetic genealogy work to solve unsolved homicides. This is a competitive grant that is only awarded to a few agencies nationwide each year.  This is the second, three-year grant the District Attorney’s Office has been awarded to fund its groundbreaking CHARGE program.

Forensic investigative genetic genealogy is a powerful investigative tool that helps law enforcement solve cold case murders by using DNA evidence to identify suspects through their family connections and public records rather than existing criminal databases. Investigators use DNA from crime scenes and create a genetic profile that can be compared to opt-in public genealogy databases to locate distant relatives of an unknown suspect.

Deputy District Attorney Chris Lindberg, who leads the DA’s Cold Case Homicide Unit, is prosecuting this case.

Meet Deputy DA Jayda Davis

In honor of Black History Month, which is celebrated throughout the month of February, the DA’s Office is featuring stories of employees and what inspired them to pursue a career in public service.

Meet Deputy District Attorney Jayda Davis, who has been working at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office since 2023. She was born and raised in San Diego. Before joining the DA’s Office and before law school, she worked at Starbucks all throughout college at SDSU. After graduating from California Western School of Law, she worked at an estate planning law firm before law school. She is currently assigned to the Felony Trial Team in the Superior Court Division of the DA’s Office.

What inspired you to choose a career in law enforcement/at the DA’s Office?  

“Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a lawyer. It was the first and only thing I wanted to be when I grew up! I had no idea why or what a lawyer did, but my grandma planted the idea in my head, and I truly ran with it. Once I got to college I knew I wanted to do criminal law, I just wasn’t sure what that looked like. I then did an internship with the DA’s office and a judge in South Bay granted the expungement of a rape conviction over our objection. It was my last day at my internship, and although I was outraged at the court’s ruling and had just ‘lost’ that motion, I knew I needed to come back to continue to work on cases and make sure victims voices were being heard.”

What is your favorite part of the job?  

“It is so hard to pick one thing, but I would have to say my favorite part of the job is working with victims. A lot of the time, we are the first person a victim hears from after reporting the crime to the police. Being able to introduce myself and provide them with information or connections with our victim advocate services is one of the most rewarding parts of this job.”

What does Black History Month mean to you, why is it important to you? 

“Black History Month is a time of honor, reflection, and growth. About 3.5% of lawyers in California are Black and about 2% of those lawyers are Black women. I was the first person in my family to go to college and law school. Growing up I didn’t know any lawyers, let alone any Black lawyers, and that is why representation is SO important. I look internally at our office and see so many excellent Black DDA’s that I aspire to be like. I just hope to follow in their footsteps and help continue to pave the way for other kids who like me at such a young age just had a dream of being here. Just a special thank you to one of my mentors in the office, Chief Samira Seidu. Thank you for always believing in me!”

 

Undercover Operation Results in Arrests of Dozens of Drug Dealers in East Village

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that a grand jury has handed down 23 indictments against 34 defendants openly selling drugs in several locations in San Diego’s East Village neighborhood including the sales of fentanyl, methamphetamine and crack cocaine. [WATCH NEWS CONFERENCE HERE]

San Diego law enforcement completed a two-month operation aimed at dismantling open-air drug markets in the East Village, reducing crime in the area, and increasing public safety for residents. Operation Street Sweeper, conducted from September through October 2025, focused on several locations identified by the San Diego Police Department as hotspots for illegal drug sales, including 16 and 17th Streets, K and C Streets and Imperial Avenue and Broadway.

Last Thursday, 23 of the defendants were arrested during a takedown operation in East Village.

“This operation reflects a coordinated, proactive law enforcement response to the community we serve, with the goal of improving the quality of life in a downtown area that continues to face public safety challenges,” DA Stephan said. “The East Village community deserves to be safe and not have their families subjected to open drug dealing and associated crime. This operation targeted the drug dealers that were selling toxic drugs like fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine base. It’s clear that the heightened drug sales are also the reason we have heightened drug overdoses in the same areas.”

The operation was a collaborative effort involving San Diego Police, Homeland Security Investigations Fentanyl Abatement Suppression Team (HSI FAST), with additional support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which is prosecuting three additional suspects connected to the case.

“The residents of East Village have long asked for more enforcement on drug-related offenses and Operation Street Sweeper did just that” said Police Chief Scott Wahl. “With this operation, we targeted open drug use and narcotic sales occurring in East Village, something children and families walked by every day. With our law enforcement partners, we were able to have a major impact on the quality of life in downtown San Diego.”

Undercover officers conducted numerous purchases and surveillance operations during the two-month period, targeting solely dealers who were selling substances such as fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine base (crack cocaine). The coordinated effort aimed not only to disrupt drug distribution but also to reduce associated crimes in the downtown corridor.

The indictments include charges ranging from the sale and possession for sale of these deadly controlled substances. If convicted, defendants face a range of sentences under state law.

“To the people who live and work downtown: the adults are back in charge,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon.

Law enforcement said partnerships are key in addressing the increase in crime seen in the area.

“HSI’s FAST is a collaborative task force of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies focused on combatting the smuggling, distribution, and sale of deadly synthetic drugs in our communities,” said Kevin Murphy, a Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations. “Operation Street Sweeper demonstrates the success we can achieve when we work together to conduct impactful investigations and make our communities safer.”

Evidence to the grand jury was presented by Deputy District Attorneys Lauren Wake and Edith Leon, prosecutors from the District Attorney’s Major Narcotics Division.

[WATCH NEWS CONFERENCE HERE]

Stolen Funds Coming Back to Support Students

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced the San Diego County Board of Supervisors has given her office authority to grant $25 million from the Charter School Fraud trust fund to the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) to fund a seven-year, countywide plan to strengthen and expand access to mental health, safety, wellness, and educational supports for K-12 students and their families. The community-responsive plan focuses on the unique strengths and needs of each region in order to connect needed resources to students experiencing homelessness and other youth who can thrive with additional support. The Board approved the grant at their January 28 meeting.

WARCH COMPLETE NEWS CONFERENCE, HERE.

“This funding will make a real difference in the lives of K-12 students and their families as they navigate wellness, safety, homelessness and mental health challenges,” said DA Stephan. “I continue to be very proud of our public corruption/consumer protection expert prosecution team that delivered justice in the A3 Charter Schools criminal case and now, we’re seeing how the trust fund established as a result of the case is impacting the community in positive ways, funneling the money stolen by the defendants back to deserving young people in our schools.”

Funds for the grant originate from criminal fines imposed in the landmark A3 Charter Schools fraud case which was prosecuted by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office. In all, more than $280 million in stolen funds were recovered. The judge who oversaw the case ordered a portion of the fines to be paid to the County of San Diego now, a portion to be paid to victims in kindergarten through 12th grade, and a portion to be paid to the state of California.

Under a resolution passed unanimously by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors in 2021, the fines imposed by the court related to this case were earmarked and exclusively dedicated to programs that directly serve the needs of kindergarten through 12th grade students in San Diego County. The funds are not intended for County operational programs, but rather to support community-serving, education-focused initiatives, consistent with the court’s intent. After disbursement of the $25 million grant, the Charter School Fraud trust fund will have $5 million remaining in it. Superior Court Judge Fred Link who masterfully presided over the criminal case issued clear guidance regarding the monies recovered and this meets the direction by the court.

The Board’s recommendation authorizes the District Attorney’s Office to continue administering its Community Grant Program (CGP) and award the one-time $25 million grant to SDCOE to implement the HeartSpire initiative, a seven-year, countywide plan. This action builds on prior Board approvals related to the CGP and the Charter School Fraud trust fund. The $25 million is actually an aggregate of several $2.2 million to $3.8 million grants each over seven school years.

The SDCOE HeartSpire initiative is designed to connect and amplify the work happening at school sites and in county services across all five supervisorial districts. Consistent with prior K-12 grant actions, the focus is on equitable access and regional coverage, rather than limiting investments to a single geographic area.

“We are grateful the DA has entrusted SDCOE with this opportunity to build upon our efforts to positively impact students, families, and communities throughout the county,” said Dr. Gloria E. Ciriza, San Diego County superintendent of schools. “HeartSpire is rooted in the belief that human connection, mental health, and relational infrastructure are essential to thriving educational systems. Accordingly, this grant will align the DA’s Office, schools, County Health and Human Services, and community-based organizations to offer integrated services that make a real difference for students and families.”

Following establishment of the trust fund, a multi-department stakeholder workgroup with representatives from the District Attorney’s Office, Behavioral Health Services, County Office of Equity & Racial Justice, and Department of Child & Family Well-Being reviewed options for use of the funds. Based on those discussions, an initial phase of 47 K-12 community grants totaling approximately $6.4 million was awarded in 2022. Those grants supported literacy, tutoring, mentoring, youth leadership, and mental health and wellness services. The initial grant activity informed subsequent consideration of opportunities for a more coordinated, regional approach, leading to the SDCOE HeartSpire proposal.

The County’s existing stakeholder workgroup will have opportunities to review program progress, milestones, and updates as implementation proceeds, particularly in advance of future funding periods within the seven-year plan.

The DA’s Community Grant Program (CGP) originated from early crime-reduction and prevention efforts and was later expanded by the Board to include education- and prevention-focused K–12 initiatives, including grants funded through the Charter School Fraud trust fund. The HeartSpire proposal represents a continuation of that evolution, while maintaining the CGP’s core purpose of supporting community-based solutions that promote safety, wellness, and opportunity.

La Bella's Cold Case Victim Ryan Cunningham. (Photo by 10News).

Grand Jury Indicts Four Gang Members for Chula Vista Cold Case Murder

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that a grand jury has returned an indictment against four gang members who attacked and killed a man at a Chula Vista restaurant nearly 21 years ago. Jose Roque-Garcia, 50; Carlos Herrera, 42; Marco Herrera, 41; and Franco Dominguez, 43, have all been charged with murder. The defendants were arraigned today in San Diego Superior Court.

“This case demonstrates that my office, working with law enforcement, will continue to seek justice no matter how long it takes. The resolve of the DA’s Bureau of Investigations working alongside our prosecutors to fight for justice for this innocent victim never wavered.” said DA Stephan. “This was a brutal crime that took the life of a victim who was looking forward to starting the next chapter of his life.”

On March 20, 2004, Roque-Garcia, a high-ranking member of a Mexican drug cartel, was at La Bella’s Pizza Garden in Chula Vista celebrating the baby shower of his then-girlfriend and mother of his child. During the event, Roque-Garcia’s girlfriend accused a patron in the restaurant, 22-year-old Ryan Cunningham of stealing the keys to her car. Cunningham was an innocent bystander who was simply at the restaurant enjoying a drink while celebrating his upcoming relocation to Arizona the next day. Roque-Garcia called his gang associates and directed them to come to the restaurant to “f— up” Cunningham.

Minutes later, Dominguez and the Herreras drove to La Bella’s where Roque-Garcia pointed out the victim. Using a 2 x 4 piece of wood, taser, metal chair, and a knife, the group collectively and viciously attacked the unsuspecting and unarmed victim, culminating in a fatal stab wound to the victim’s chest.

In spite of excellent investigatory work by the Chula Vista Police Department, the case ran cold with no meaningful leads for decades. By re-examining the case over the past several years, prosecutors and DA investigators were able to piece together missing pieces of evidence that ultimately supported the grand jury’s indictment.

Law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation include the San Diego Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and the San Diego District Attorney’s Office which provided assistance and information to the Chula Vista Police Department. Numerous search warrants were executed in the course of the investigation and DNA evidence was re-examined. Franco Dominguez, Carlos Herrera, and Marco Herrera were taken into custody on January 15 without incident. Roque-Garcia was already in custody.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Robert Eacret, Christopher Netniss and Michael Reilly in the DA’s Gangs Division with key support and involvement from District Attorney Investigator Marco Mercado.

Prisoner handcuffed behind bars

Family Predator Sentenced for Molesting Multiple Relatives over Years

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that a man who over several years molested five different nieces between the ages of 5 and 16 has been sentenced to prison.

Joaquin Ruiz, 45, was sentenced to 102 years to life in prison for 18 counts of sex abuse against a child including forcible lewd acts, oral copulation on a child more than 10 years younger, possession of child sexual abuse material and other counts. A jury found him guilty in August of every count.

“Predators who steal the innocence of a child, creating a lifetime of trauma, have no place in our society.” DA Stephan said. “Today’s sentence is a message to sexual abusers that you will be held to account, and you will not hide in the shadows, no matter what your affiliations are. I am grateful to our expert sexual abuse prosecution team, who delivered a measure of justice to the victims in this case.”

Considered devoutly religious, Defendant Ruiz was known as “the perfect man” in his family, so much so that when the first victim disclosed, her parents and the defendant’s wife did not believe her. This caused the victim to recant her disclosure and apologize to the defendant. A second niece disclosed what Ruiz did to her, but the girl’s mother and sister kept her disclosure secret for months until they confronted Ruiz and his wife at a park. The confrontation became so heated that the police were called, which kickstarted the child abuse investigation. The investigation revealed additional victims, videos from hidden cameras that Ruiz placed in his bathrooms to capture the young children using the toilet, and screenshots of child sexual abuse material from sites the defendant visited.

Child molestation is a very serious crime that can affect a victim forever. Victims suffer higher rates of school difficulty, depression, substance abuse, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, eating or sleeping disorders, and suicide. However, child molestation can be prevented, and parents and guardians are encouraged to talk to their children about what is and is not appropriate. For additional resources, visit the District Attorney’s page about molestation prevention.

Deputy District Attorney An Dang prosecuted this case.

24 Year Prison Term for Gang Member Who Shot and Paralyzed Innocent Teen

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that the prosecutions of three gang members involved in a shootout two years ago that left an innocent teen girl paralyzed has concluded with the final defendant, Juan Velazco Diaz, 21, being sentenced to 24 years in state prison for his violent crimes.

On October 28, 2023, two rival gang groups collided outside of a high school party in the Talmadge area of San Diego. After exchanging verbal gang challenges, a member of each gang, Juan Velazco Diaz and Kenneth Hill, produced guns and shot at each other. Velazco Diaz shot first, missed his target and the bullet struck 17-year-old high school cheerleader Brianna Wallace, who happened to be standing across the street near the 4400 block of Winona Avenue. Wallace was shot in the back and was instantly paralyzed from the waist down.

“It is heartbreaking when innocent members of our community are caught in the crossfire of senseless gang violence,” said DA Stephan. “Our hearts go out to the teen victim whose brave testimony was pivotal in obtaining justice in this case. Acts of gang violence devastate neighborhoods and will never be tolerated. Our office remains committed to holding those who would commit such violence fully accountable and to working with our law enforcement partners to reduce organized gang crime and prevent these tragedies from happening.”

After a joint investigation between the San Diego Police Department Gang Unit and the District Attorney’s Office’s Gangs Unit, Velazco Diaz, Kenneth Hill, 20, and Davian Austin, 21, were all arrested for their involvement and prosecuted. Hill and Austin were convicted of assault with a firearm, and Velazco Diaz was convicted of attempted murder with the use of a firearm and assault with the use of a firearm causing paralysis. Hill received a nine-year prison term. Austin received a sentence of one year in jail and was placed formal probation for two years.

Deputy District Attorney Kyle Sutterley in the DA’s Gangs Division prosecuted this case.

The DA’s Gangs Division prosecutes complex murder cases and other serious crimes perpetrated by violent gang members who terrorize neighborhoods. These cases are handled by one prosecutor from beginning to end – also called vertical prosecution. Cases in this division are expertly navigated by 26 prosecutors and 20 investigators to bring justice to families left in the wake of violence. In 2024, the Gangs Division conducted 23 murder jury trials, which is more than 40% of the total murders tried in the DA’s office. The division also prosecuted other cases including kidnapping for rape, assault with great bodily injury, robbery, carjacking and possession of illegal firearms, such as ghost guns, by gang members.