Ex-NFL running back found guilty in massive dog-fighting case involving almost 200 animals
Article content
A U.S. federal jury in Oklahoma found the former NFLer guilty last week of violating the federal Animal Welfare Act's prohibitions against possessing, selling, transporting and delivering animals to be used in fighting ventures, the Department of Justice announced on Monday.
Article content
Johnson, who played in the NFL from 1994-99, faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to US$250,000 on each count. He will be sentenced at a later date.
Article content
In the bust, officials said that they had seized 190 dogs, which the Department of Justice believes is the largest-ever seizure of dogs in a federal case of this kind.
Article content
'This criminal profited off of the misery of innocent animals and he will face severe consequences for his vile crimes,' U.S. attorney general Pamela Bondi said in a statement. 'This case underscores the Department of Justice's commitment to protecting animals from abuse — 190 dogs are now safe thanks to outstanding collaborative work by our attorneys and law enforcement components.'
Article content
During the multi-day trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Johnson had bred and trafficked dogs for his 'Mal Kant Kennels' operation in order to fight them.
Article content
Federal prosecutors said that the 54-year-old was selectively breeding 'champion' and 'grand champion' fighting dogs — canines that have won multiple fights — to create offspring that could fight.
Article content
Article content
'The FBI will not stand for those who perpetuate the despicable crime of dogfighting,' FBI director Kash Patel said in a statement. 'Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners, those who continue to engage in organized animal fighting and cruelty will face justice.'
Article content
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
23 minutes ago
- CTV News
Sault appoints new police chief with 3 decades of experience
Sault appoints new police chief with 3 decades of experience Sault Ste. Marie named former deputy chief Brent Duguay as its new Chief of Police Wednesday. The 30-year veteran called it an "incredible honour" to lead his hometown force.
CBC
24 minutes ago
- CBC
Conservation officers issue thousands of dollars worth of fines over B.C. Day long weekend
Dozens of people across B.C. have a ticket burning in their pockets. Conservation officers say they handed out tens of thousands of dollars worth of tickets for violating campfire bans over the B.C. Day long weekend. CBC's Dan Burritt spoke with reporter Renée Lukacs about the flurry of fines.
CBC
24 minutes ago
- CBC
Rampant bike theft, lack of enforcement, creates frustration in Winnipeg
While incidents of stolen bikes continue to frustrate Winnipeggers, and local organizations work to combat the issue, some say they would like to see Winnipeg police putting more officers and more effort into fighting bike theft. "Theft is rampant, we're looking at all sorts of solutions to try and mitigate that," Bike Winnipeg board member Ian McCausland said on Wednesday. "I think it would be great if the police signaled that this problem is substantial, and understood the impact it has on a vast majority of people in the city." According to McCausland, theft is one reason some Winnipeggers don't embrace cycling as a means of transportation and commuting, and he doesn't see that changing until more is done to combat it. "The No. 1 concern obviously is road safety, but right behind that it's security," he said. "Security is one of the top five reasons that people would not embrace active transportation. It's one thing to get there safely. It's now, 'Where am I going to put my bike and make sure it's there when I come out?'" He said a portion of Winnipeggers use bikes to get around because they are more affordable than automobiles, and when bikes are stolen from those who rely on them, it can cause problems in their personal and professional lives. "That really impacts people's day-to-day lives and might put their jobs in jeopardy," McCausland said. "There's all sorts of ramifications over a simple bike theft." In 2024, the city began using a bike registry system called 529 Garage, where users can register their bikes. Rob Brunt of 529 Garage, a former Vancouver police officer based in B.C., says most of the bikes stolen in Winnipeg and across Canada don't get dismantled for parts. Instead, he says criminals find it easier and more lucrative to sell stolen bikes as-is. "These are organized individuals," Brunt said. "They're selling bicycles on Kijiji, Facebook, and making lots of money at the expense of the cycling community." Brunt is encouraging bike owners to register their bike with 529 Garage, while also encouraging the use of a sturdy lock when their bike is parked. On Wednesday, Winnipeg police did not respond to a request for comment on the issue of stolen bike enforcement in Winnipeg. Matt Gould, a criminal defence lawyer with Brodsky Amy & Gould, said someone who steals a bicycle could theoretically be charged with theft under $5,000, with sentences ranging from a fine to community service. But he said many who steal bikes in Winnipeg have very little to begin with, and likely aren't deterred by the possible penalties. "So in terms of the consequences that exist right now, whether they're adequate or not, in my opinion, increasing the legal consequences for bicycle theft would have zero appreciable difference on the number of bicycles actually stolen," Gould said. McCausland says he and many with Bike Winnipeg believe that bike theft will remain an issue as long as other social issues including poverty and addictions persist in Winnipeg. "It's hard because we have these kinds of conversations all the time, and there's a lot of things going on in the city," he said. "There's a lot of issues and rampant bike theft is almost a symptom of a bigger problem rather than a big problem in itself.
