Culver City Man Who Works for Nonprofit that Distributes Syringes to Homeless Drug Users Arrested on Federal Fentanyl Charge

LOS ANGELES - A Culver City man who works for a nonprofit organization that distributes syringes to homeless drug users in Los Angeles and elsewhere was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with possessing fentanyl when police pulled him over while he drove a BMW near MacArthur Park earlier this month.

Christopher Barret Johnson, 42, is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

Johnson works for People Assisting the Homeless (PATH), a nationwide nonprofit that offers services to homeless people including street outreach, interim and permanent housing. PATH also serves as a vendor distributing syringes, including in MacArthur Park, a sector of the city characterized by high rates of poverty with many of its residents and visitors being drug users.

Johnson is expected to make his initial appearance tomorrow afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, during the late evening of May 5, 2026, Los Angeles Police officers patrolled the MacArthur Park area, which is notorious for the use and sale illegal drugs, including methamphetamine and fentanyl, in open-air markets.

At approximately 10:20 p.m., the officers observed a white BMW lacking a front license plate abruptly conduct a U-turn in front of them. The officers then conducted a traffic stop on the BMW.

The vehicle's sole occupant was Johnson, who "appeared very nervous," the affidavit states. While speaking with Johnson, one of the officers observed in plain view on the BMW's center console a plastic baggie containing methamphetamine. The officer also saw Johnson carrying two knives in his waistband. The officer then ordered Johnson out of the car. Johnson complied.

The officers conducted a pat-down search of Johnson and found a plastic baggie containing methamphetamine in Johnson's left front trouser pocket. Officers also searched the BMW and located a partially opened backpack that contained more plastic baggies containing methamphetamine and fentanyl, a digital scale that had fentanyl residue on it, empty plastic baggies, and cash.

Also found inside the BMW was a dish soap container that contained additional plastic baggies containing fentanyl. The BMW's center console also contained cash and a large amount of plastic baggies.

Subsequent laboratory analysis confirmed that the drugs seized from Johnson's BMW and person included at least 142 grams of a substance that contained fentanyl and nearly 46 grams of methamphetamine.

A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

If convicted, Johnson would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating this matter with assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Jones of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.