Peter Johnson

Bar / Professional Activity

• Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Trial Attorney Panel for the United States District Court for the Central District of California; Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Capital Habeas Attorney Panel for the United States District Court for the Central District of California, 2025
• United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit - 2002 to present, 2002
• United States District Court for the District of Maryland - 2002 to present, 2002
• United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit - 2007 to Present, 2007
• United States District Court for the Central District of California - 2007 to Present, 2007
• United States Supreme Court Bar - 2024 to Present, 2024
• California Bar - 2007 to Present, 2007
• Maryland Bar - 1999 to Present, 1999
• Member, Federal Bar Association, Los Angeles Chapter; Member, National Bar Association; Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2025

Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)

• Civil Rights - Represented Client in federal civil rights prison and jail abuse and neglect case. Settlement $375,000, 2024
• After three-week jury trial, jury acquitted client on 10 of the 11 healthcare fraud counts charged against him, 2022

Videos

•  Federal Criminal Defense - What Clients are saying about Peter Johnson Law, Peter Johnson Law, Federal Criminal Defense, 2025
• Why I practice criminal defense, About Peter Johnson, Criminal Law, 2025
• USC Criminal Law Course Law 205, Criminal Law, 2025
• Panelist at Bar Association Event, NBA CRIMINAL LAW JUVENILE LAW SECTION PRESENTS: EFFECTIVE METHODS OF ENSURING POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, Criminal Law, 2024

Representative Clients

• **2020 to 2025*** Represented business owner in federal court against charges of money laundering and PPP loan fraud exceeding $15 million. * Represented nurse charged with elder abuse in state court and before the licensing board to defend their license.* Represented business owner in federal court against charges of money laundering and PPP loan fraud exceeding $15 million.* Represented multiple clients in federal court accused of RICO, drug trafficking, and VICAR offenses.* Represented client in federal forfeiture of firearms, leading to the successful return of the client's firearms.* Represented student in Title IX allegations of sexual assault, leading to dismissal of complaint. * Represented client accused of assault and attempted murder of a police officer in state court. * Represented healthcare professional in federal court accused of $18 million in healthcare fraud.* Represented target in federal grand jury proceedings; no charges filed.* Represented client in federal court on federal drug trafficking charges and successfully negotiated a pretrial diversion disposition.* Represented international client in a state criminal offense and facilitated the removal of an outstanding arrest warrant. * Represented a client in a federal drug trafficking allegation, achieving a successful alternative sentence with no prison time and a dismissal of the case. * Represented multiple clients in federal court accused of RICO, drug trafficking, and VICAR offenses. * Represented an entrepreneur and company owner charged with federal healthcare fraud conspiracy and unlicensed wholesale distribution of drugs offenses.* Represented an entrepreneur and company owner charged with federal healthcare fraud and conspiracy offenses.* Represented a company employee charged with federal import, export, and customs offenses.* Represented a company employee charged with multi-million dollar federal healthcare/MediCal fraud offenses.* Represented an individual charged with federal PPP Loan fraud, conspiracy, and wire fraud offenses.* Represented an individual charged with federal RICO, VICAR, drug trafficking, and firearms offenses.* Represented and advised numerous individuals in discrete federal pre-indictment and pre-trial resolutions of varied kinds. * Represented a company owner charged with multi-million-dollar federal healthcare fraud conspiracy and money laundering.* Represented an entrepreneur and company owner in a federal grand jury investigation of tax evasion allegations.* Represented an individual in federal bank fraud and identity theft charges.* Represented an individual charged with federal wire fraud and theft involving the U.S. Department of Education. Represented client charged with embezzling over $200,000 from their employer, 2025

Pro bono / Community Service

• Pro bono client serving 20-year mandatory minimum sentence for non-violent drug offense granted clemency by President Barack Obama, 2016
• Pro bono client serving life sentence for non-violent drug offense granted clemency by President Barack Obama, 2016

Educational Background

• M.B.A., IE Business School, Madrid, Spain; Activities: International Exchange at Fudan School of Management, Shanghai, China (2009); Class President, 2008-2009
• B.S. University of Maryland, College Park, 1988-1993
• J.D., University of Maryland School of Law, Order of Barristers (highest honors in oral advocacy and brief writing). Activities: Jessup International Moot Court Team (regional finalist), National Trial Team (national semi-finalist), 1995-1999

Scholarly Lectures / Writings

• This course explores theoretical and practical aspects of the criminal trial process and provides training in the skills needed to represent the prosecution and the defense in criminal trials. Classes consider the principal function of criminal trials--the resolution of disputed questions of fact in determining guilt--and the trial lawyer’s role in presenting persuasive evidence to the judges and jurors who perform that function. Classes focus on the development of specific trial skills in such tasks as fact analysis, conducting direct and cross examinations, making opening statements and closing arguments, using exhibits, and making and responding to evidentiary objections. In addition, classes address legal issues relating to aspects of criminal trials including jury selection, discovery, the use of informants, and ethical obligations of both the prosecution and defense. These subjects are presented through a combination of lecture, discussion, demonstration, and simulated role-playing exercises. Simulations are videotaped and critiqued by the instructor. The simulations culminate in a videotaped mock trial tried before a judge and jury, Adjunct Faculty of Law, Lecturer in Law, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law, Criminal Trial Advocacy, 2021
• The Introduction to Criminal Law course provides a comprehensive analysis of the criminal justice system and an overview of the fundamentals of substantive criminal law, Adjunct Faculty of Law, Lecturer in Law, University of Southern California (USC) Gould School of Law, Criminal Law, 2025

Other Outstanding Achievements

• Law Clerk to the Honorable Robert M. Bell, Chief Judge, Court of Appeals of Maryland, 2000
• Law Clerk to the Honorable Alexander Williams, Jr., United States District Judge for the District of Maryland, 2001

Firm News (Newsletters)

• Peter Johnson speaks with the New York Times about the arrest and prosecution of Attorney Michael Avannati, New York Times: "Michael Avenatti’s Biggest Case Yet: His Own.", Legal News; Federal Trials; Federal Criminal Charges; Arrest And Prosecution
• Peter Johnson speaks with the Los Angeles Time on prosecution, plea and potential sentence of Suge Knight, Los Angeles Times: "Suge Knight's image as thug and feared enforcer crumbled in court.", Legal News, Sentencing, Plea Agreements
• Peter Johnson speaks to the Los Angeles Times about the sex abuse charges and arrest of La Luz del Mundo church leaders and $50 million bail of Naason Joaquin Garcia, Los Angeles Times: Sex abuse charges against La Luz del Mundo leader are the ‘tip of the iceberg,’ prosecutors say., Legal News; Criminal Law; Bail
• Peter Johnson speaks to the Los Angeles Times about the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers brawl and prosecutorial discretion to charge players with assault, Los Angeles Times: "For Myles Garrett and Mason Rudolph, where does football end and the law begin?", Legal News; Sports; Assault And Battery; Consent Defense

Honors

• Member, The National Black Lawyers Association "Top 100", 2025
• Avvo Rating 10.0, www.Avvo.com, 2025
• Avvo Client Choice, www.Avvo.com, 2023
• Member, The National Trial Lawyers Association "Top 100" (Criminal Law - Los Angeles), 2025

Awards

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Avvo Client's Choice Award: This award is granted to attorneys with at least 5 reviews with 4+ stars in a given year on Avvo.com