3 days ago
Former NFL running back LeShon Johnson has been sentenced to five years in federal prison after being convicted of six dogfighting-related charges, according to a Department of Justice release on Thursday.
Additionally, Johnson — who was in the NFL from 1994-99 and spent time with the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants — will have three years of supervised release. Plus, he'll have to pay a $30,000 fine.
Johnson was indicted in March 2025 and convicted in an Oklahoma federal court in August of last year. He had been running a large-scale dogfighting ring based in the state since at least 2007, according to the DOJ, which cited trial testimony.
Johnson, 55, previously pleaded guilty in 2004 to Oklahoma dogfighting offenses. Back then, he received a five-year deferred sentence in state court, according to ESPN's Thursday report, which cited Oklahoma court records.
His most recent operation, known as "Mal Kant Kennels," consisted of breeding and selling pit bulls who would fight around the country, with Johnson profiting from the trafficking. The 190 dogs the authorities seized from Johnson's property are the most ever rescued from a single individual in a federal dogfighting case, per the DOJ.
#dogfighting #according #court #thursday
Additionally, Johnson — who was in the NFL from 1994-99 and spent time with the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants — will have three years of supervised release. Plus, he'll have to pay a $30,000 fine.
Johnson was indicted in March 2025 and convicted in an Oklahoma federal court in August of last year. He had been running a large-scale dogfighting ring based in the state since at least 2007, according to the DOJ, which cited trial testimony.
Johnson, 55, previously pleaded guilty in 2004 to Oklahoma dogfighting offenses. Back then, he received a five-year deferred sentence in state court, according to ESPN's Thursday report, which cited Oklahoma court records.
His most recent operation, known as "Mal Kant Kennels," consisted of breeding and selling pit bulls who would fight around the country, with Johnson profiting from the trafficking. The 190 dogs the authorities seized from Johnson's property are the most ever rescued from a single individual in a federal dogfighting case, per the DOJ.
#dogfighting #according #court #thursday
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3 days ago
Former NFL running back LeShon Johnson has been sentenced to 60 months in federal prison after he was convicted of six felonies related to dog fighting.
Authorities seized 190 dogs from Johnson's property, the most dogs ever seized from any individual in a federal dog fighting investigation. This is Johnson's second dog fighting conviction; he was also convicted of state dog fighting charges in Oklahoma in 2004.
"LeShon Johnson continued to traffic dogs for illegal fighting despite a 2004 state conviction for similar conduct," said Deputy **** istant Attorney General Adam Gustafson. "We are grateful to our colleagues at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma and the FBI for partnering with ENRD to bring this repeat offender to justice and to the U.S. Marshals Service for executing the biggest rescue operation of its kind."
The Department of Justice says Johnson made hundreds of thousands of dollars through his dog fighting operation, selling dogs he described as fighting champions, selling puppies he said were bred to be fighting champions, and charging stud fees to other dog fighters so that his champion males could breed with their females.
The 55-year-old Johnson was a third-round pick of the Packers in 1994 and also played for the Cardinals and Giants before finishing his pro football career with the XFL's Chicago Enforcers.
#leshon #oklahoma #federal #seized
Authorities seized 190 dogs from Johnson's property, the most dogs ever seized from any individual in a federal dog fighting investigation. This is Johnson's second dog fighting conviction; he was also convicted of state dog fighting charges in Oklahoma in 2004.
"LeShon Johnson continued to traffic dogs for illegal fighting despite a 2004 state conviction for similar conduct," said Deputy **** istant Attorney General Adam Gustafson. "We are grateful to our colleagues at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma and the FBI for partnering with ENRD to bring this repeat offender to justice and to the U.S. Marshals Service for executing the biggest rescue operation of its kind."
The Department of Justice says Johnson made hundreds of thousands of dollars through his dog fighting operation, selling dogs he described as fighting champions, selling puppies he said were bred to be fighting champions, and charging stud fees to other dog fighters so that his champion males could breed with their females.
The 55-year-old Johnson was a third-round pick of the Packers in 1994 and also played for the Cardinals and Giants before finishing his pro football career with the XFL's Chicago Enforcers.
#leshon #oklahoma #federal #seized
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