Did you know that there could be money waiting for crime victims who don’t even know it?
The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office tracks down victims who are owed court-ordered restitution, sometimes years after their cases ended. Meet the team making sure justice doesn’t stop at a conviction, in the video below.
How can first responders help identify and support victims of domestic violence before it’s too late?
At One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center, the Gabby Petito Foundation hosted a special Lunch and Learn training led by Gabby Petito’s stepfather, firefighter Jim Schmidt. The training brought together first responders, victim advocates, and community partners to discuss warning signs, intervention strategies, and ways to connect victims with lifesaving resources.
In this week’s DA News, San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan highlights the important work of the Consumer Protection Unit — the highly skilled team dedicated to safeguarding our community from fraud, deceptive business practices, and financial exploitation. The Consumer Protection Division is made up of experienced prosecutors, investigators, forensic accountants, and professional staff who specialize in complex civil and criminal enforcement actions. These experts handle cases involving unfair competition, false advertising, environmental violations, price gouging, scams targeting seniors, and large-scale corporate misconduct.
In this week’s DA news, DA Summer Stephan discusses the felony charges against a former nonprofit executive accused of misappropriating more than $130,000 in County opioid settlement funds. The case highlights the importance of transparency, oversight, and protecting taxpayer dollars. If you suspect misuse of public funds, you can report concerns to the DA’s Public Integrity Unit through the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office website. 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.
DA Summer Stephan announces charges against a woman who bilked San Diego County out of more than $130,000 to fund her lavish lifestyle including plastic surgery and luxury vacations. The defendant, Amy J. Knox, was previously convicted of stealing over $500,000 from her employer.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan joined law enforcement partners to announce the results of Operation Street Sweeper, an undercover investigation that led to the grand jury indictment of 34 drug dealers tied to fentanyl, methamphetamine and crack cocaine sales in East Village. The operation targeted open-air drug markets to improve public safety and reduce overdose dangers in downtown San Diego.
DETAILS: https://danewscenter.com/?p=9708
EN ESPAÑOL: https://danewscenter.com/?p=9701
On January 30, District Attorney Summer Stephan proudly swore in 15 new Deputy District Attorneys committed to serving the people of San Diego County. In this special moment, our newest prosecutors share why they chose a career in public service — and why they chose the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office to make a difference. Join us in congratulating these dedicated public servants as they begin their journey to uphold justice, protect our communities, and stand for what’s right.
After successfully prosecuting the landmark A3 Charter Schools fraud case, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office recovered more than $280 million in stolen education funds. In sentencing, the judge ordered that the recovered money be distributed to benefit the public—directing portions to the County of San Diego, to K–12 student victims, and to the State of California—and made clear that funds designated for students must be used exclusively for programs that directly support K–12 education.
As a result, a Charter School Fraud Trust Fund was established, and the DA’s Office was authorized by the County Board of Supervisors to administer grants that return stolen dollars to students and families. The DA’s Office has now awarded $25 million from that trust fund to the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) to implement HeartSpire, a seven-year, countywide initiative that brings together schools, county services, and community partners to expand mental health, safety, wellness, and educational supports for K–12 students across San Diego County—turning accountability into real, lasting impact.
At the East County Drug Court Graduation, San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan explained how Drug Court provides accountability, treatment, and hope for individuals struggling with substance use disorders—and celebrated a major milestone through the SCOPE program.
SCOPE (Severe Co-Occurring Pilot East) was created to serve individuals with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders—an underserved population that often faces significant barriers to treatment. Through strong collaboration with the East County Center for Change, Action Central, and the East County Drug Court team—including DDA Joseph Fusco— participants receive individualized, specialized treatment and support.
During this graduation ceremony, the court proudly honored its first SCOPE graduate, highlighting meaningful progress toward long-term recovery, housing and employment stability, and family reunification. We were proud to honor these graduates and celebrate what’s possible when innovation, compassion, and accountability come together. This program demonstrates how collaborative justice improves lives while strengthening public safety.
Watch more in the video.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan invites you to join us in San Ysidro for an important community forum with the San Ysidro Education Collaborative. We’ll talk about the issues impacting our families right now:
⚠️ Fentanyl dangers & overdose awareness
🛑 Consumer fraud prevention
💙 Human trafficking prevention & awareness
📱 Social media safety to protect kids online
📍 Ocean View Hills Elementary School
🗓 Tuesday, Feb. 10 ⏰ 5:30–7:30 p.m.
🎟 No Cost Event & open to the public Your voice matters. Your safety matters. We hope to see you there.