Tiffany Knupp charged with embezzlement, theft from Gavin Knupp Foundation

WORCESTER CO., Md. – Tiffany Knupp, the mother of Gavin Knupp, has been charged with embezzlement and theft.

Knupp has been charged with three counts of embezzlement, five counts of theft $1500 to under $25,000, and one count of theft $100 to under $1500.

According to court documents, Maryland State Police received a tip in late December 2023 that Tiffany Knupp was embezzling funds from the Gavin Knupp Foundation, which was started after Gavin was killed in a hit-and-run accident in July 2022. The Gavin Knupp Foundation was established in October 2023 as a non-profit organization aiming to commemorate the life of Gavin.

Through investigation, it was revealed that Knupp used funds from the Foundation’s account to pay her personal attorney in connection to her divorce proceedings in 2023. She reportedly declared under oath that she had obtained the Foundation’s authorization to compensate her personal lawyer, however, that was proven to be false.

Additionally, Shaka Pool Bar raised $3,200 to support the family of Carter Figgs. Knupp reportedly pledged to match the funds raised, which should have equaled $6,400, and she acquired a cashier’s check worth $4,200 one month after the fundraiser, issued to Brandon Figgs. In a subsequent interview, Knupp allegedly told officials that she had deposited the money into the Foundation’s bank account and contributed an equal amount to the Figgs family, deducting her expenses, totaling $4,200.

Officials say there is no evidence indicating that Knupp made any cash deposits into the Foundation’s bank account. From May 19, 2023, to January 9, 2024, there were no cash deposits recorded in the Foundation’s bank account.

It was also discovered that Knupp raised funds for merchandise for the Gavin Knupp Foundation, but through further investigation, it was learned that any funds raised through Shirts Fast LLC, the company Knupp contacted for the merchandise, were required to be exclusively deposited into the Foundation’s bank account.

In total, Knupp was found to have stolen a total of $12,625 from the Foundation and Shaka Pool Bar.

If convicted, Knupp faces a maximum of more than 35 years in prison and/or over $50,000 in fines.

She is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on July 23rd.

The attorney for Tiffany Knupp released the following statement Wednesday afternoon:

“Ms. Knupp has been charged with embezzling money and related theft offenses from the Foundation she heads and for which she has fought vigorously to raise money for families that have lost loved ones as she has lost her son Gavin. These charges are completely bogus, based on distortions of the truth or blatant inaccuracies and we will fight these charges to their core. She is completely innocent of all charges and we await our day in court where we will be able to face these allegations head on and show the truth.

Tiffany is a person who has stood up in her life for others. She has faced overwhelming pain and then more than a year of media attention following her son’s death while she’s worked to be the best mother she can be, a strong advocate for the community, a business owner and friend to many. Under Tiffany’s leadership the Foundation has donated thousands of dollars to families in need and continues to support local families of those who have lost children. She has had to deal with documented, continual harassment from her ex, which has taken place over years, and has led to the granting of multiple protective orders against him. We believe these present allegations have a connection to that strained relationship. We look very much forward to our day in court and what we believe will be the clearing of Ms. Knupp’s good name.”