Major MacArthur Park drug bust as feds make terrifying discovery in suspect’s backpack

Federal authorities have announced another major drug arrest tied to LA’s troubled MacArthur Park after officers allegedly discovered more than a kilogram of a fentanyl precursor inside a suspect’s backpack.

Cheavis Cole Williamson, 43, of Westlake, has been charged federally with possession of a controlled substance after authorities say he was found in possession of more than 1.2 kilograms — about 2.7 pounds — of a chemical precursor used in the production of fentanyl.

Williamson was arrested Thursday evening by Los Angeles Police Department officers conducting enforcement operations in the MacArthur Park area, according to federal prosecutors.

“Another day, another drug bust in the MacArthur Park area,” First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli wrote on X.

“As we’ve stated, law enforcement will maintain a strong presence at the park. There will be zero tolerance for drug dealing, and offenders will face the maximum federal prison sentences possible under the law.”

Investigators said officers searched Williamson’s backpack and allegedly recovered approximately 1.2 kilograms of the fentanyl precursor. Williamson, who authorities said is currently on probation, was taken into custody at the scene.

The investigation did not end there.

Law enforcement officials later searched Williamson’s apartment, where they allegedly found nearly $1,000 worth of plastic bags on the floor, according to prosecutors.

Williamson is scheduled to make his initial appearance Monday in US District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

The arrest marks the latest in a series of federal drug enforcement actions centered on MacArthur Park, a neighborhood that has become a focal point for law enforcement efforts targeting narcotics trafficking and open-air drug activity.

Federal authorities have repeatedly vowed to maintain a heightened presence around the park as part of a broader crackdown on drug trafficking networks operating in the area.

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The latest case comes amid ongoing enforcement operations involving federal agents, LAPD officers and other law enforcement agencies focused on curbing the sale and distribution of narcotics near the park.

Prosecutors have not alleged that Williamson manufactured fentanyl, but the federal complaint accuses him of possessing a significant quantity of a precursor chemical commonly associated with the drug’s production.

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