Ex-PATH employee busted selling fentanyl near MacArthur Park
Christopher Johnson, former employee of taxpayer-funded homeless nonprofit PATH, arrested May 5 with fentanyl, meth, and dealing supplies near Los Angeles park.
Christopher Johnson, a former employee of the taxpayer-funded homeless nonprofit PATH, was arrested May 5 for allegedly selling fentanyl near Los Angeles' MacArthur Park after police found him with drugs, cash, and a scale during a traffic stop.
Los Angeles Police Department officers discovered Johnson in his BMW carrying methamphetamine, fentanyl, empty baggies, a large amount of cash, and a drug scale. When questioned, Johnson claimed the drugs belonged to a woman named "Red" and said he "takes care of the drugs for her." He told officers he worked for People Assisting the Homeless (PATH).
Nonprofit Denies Current Employment
PATH confirmed Johnson worked on its outreach team in Service Planning Area 7 until his employment ended September 17, 2025 — more than seven months before his arrest. The organization said it was "outraged and deeply disturbed" that someone would falsely represent themselves as a current employee.
The nonprofit, founded in 1983, operates in more than 150 cities and receives taxpayer funding for services including street outreach, housing navigation, and "harm reduction" programs. PATH serves as a vendor distributing syringes in the MacArthur Park area, according to federal court documents.
Johnson now faces federal charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The arrest came one day before federal authorities conducted a massive drug raid at MacArthur Park on May 6, seizing 40 pounds of fentanyl — enough for 190,000 fatal doses — valued at $8-10 million.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about MacArthur Park, which has become a notorious open-air drug market controlled by gangs. It also raises questions about oversight of taxpayer-funded nonprofits operating in areas plagued by drug trafficking, as Insider Wire has previously reported on government waste issues.
Federal prosecutors will determine whether to pursue additional charges as the investigation continues.
