A 42-year-old Culver City man who previously worked with a homelessness advocacy nonprofit is accused by federal authorities of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, Christopher “Chris” Johnson was arrested May 5 near MacArthur Park after he abruptly made a U-turn in front of Los Angeles police officers, who then conducted a traffic stop.
“LAPD officers saw methamphetamine in a plastic baggie in plain view in Johnson’s car,” Essayli said in a post to X. “Additional searches of Johnson’s person and his BMW resulted in the seizure of at least 142 grams of fentanyl and nearly 46 grams of methamphetamine.”
Johnson was arrested on a federal criminal complaint charging him with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, Essayli added.
Christopher “Chris” Johnson, 42, of Culver City, a former employee of the nonprofit homeless advocacy agency PATH was arrested by federal agents and accused of fentanyl trafficking on May 21, 2026. (DOJ)
Christopher “Chris” Johnson, 42, of Culver City, a former employee of the nonprofit homeless advocacy agency PATH was arrested by federal agents and accused of fentanyl trafficking on May 21, 2026. (DOJ)
Christopher “Chris” Johnson, 42, of Culver City, a former employee of the nonprofit homeless advocacy agency PATH was arrested by federal agents and accused of fentanyl trafficking on May 21, 2026. (DOJ)
Christopher “Chris” Johnson, 42, of Culver City, a former employee of the nonprofit homeless advocacy agency PATH was arrested by federal agents and accused of fentanyl trafficking on May 21, 2026. (DOJ)
Christopher “Chris” Johnson, 42, of Culver City, a former employee of the nonprofit homeless advocacy agency PATH was arrested by federal agents and accused of fentanyl trafficking on May 21, 2026. (DOJ)
Footage of Johnson’s arrest released by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration showed him being cuffed and placed into an SUV while a drug-sniffing K9 was deployed on his vehicle.
Federal agents also showed video of a box containing 4 mg naloxone nasal spray, which is used to help reverse the effects of opioid overdoses, including those involving drugs like fentanyl.
Additionally, it appeared Johnson was in possession of first-aid supplies, syringes and a sharps container used for disposing of needles.
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Agents also displayed business cards bearing Johnson’s name for PATH, People Assisting the Homeless, a Los Angeles nonprofit that is partially funded by the city and frequently contracts with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.
Essayli claims Johnson is a PATH employee and that the nonprofit distributes syringes to drug users at MacArthur Park, a program he said local businesses and residents in the area have long opposed.
“They call these policies ‘harm reduction.’ I consider them ‘harm enabling,’” Essayli wrote in his social media post. “Giving drug-addicted users needles to shoot up meth and fentanyl is never a good idea.”
In response to the allegations, an X account appearing to belong to PATH, which is followed by several Los Angeles City Council members, commented beneath Essayli’s post, saying the organization has not and does not provide needle exchange services in MacArthur Park.
“Christopher Johnson’s employment with PATH concluded on September 16, 2025,” the comment continued. “He was part of the multidisciplinary outreach team working in Service Planning Area 7.”
KTLA has reached out to both the U.S. Attorney’s Office and PATH for comment and is awaiting a response.
Johnson is due to make his first court appearance tomorrow. If convicted as charged, he faces up to five to 40 years in federal prison.
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