Former Packers running back LeShon Johnson charged in large-scale dog fighting operation
GREEN BAY − Former Green Bay Packers running back LeShon Johnson has been arrested and accused of running a dog fighting and trafficking business.
What the Justice Department is calling the largest federal dog fighting bust in history, federal authorities seized nearly 200 pit bulls in Johnson's custody in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
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Johnson, 54, has been charged with multiple violations related to the federal Animal Welfare Act, according to an unsealed grand jury indictment by a U.S. district court in Oklahoma's eastern district.
All the dogs were seized from Johnson's custody in October 2024 under the Animal Welfare Act, according to a press release from the DOJ.
'Animal abuse is cruel, depraved, and deserves severe punishment,' Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in the press release. 'The Department of Justice will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law and will remain committed to protecting innocent animals from those who would do them harm.'
According to court documents, Johnson ran at least two dog fighting operations called 'Mal Kant Kennels' in Haskell, where he was born, and in his town of Broken Arrow. Johnson previously ran 'Krazyside Kennels' and pleaded guilty to dog fighting charges in 2005.
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In the press release, the DOJ said the trafficking reached dog fighters across the country, growing the dog fighting industry, and Johnson was able to make a financial profit.
Johnson was selected by the Packers in the third round of the 1994 NFL draft out of Northern Illinois and spent five seasons in the league. He appeared in only 14 games over two seasons with the Packers before finishing his career with the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants.
During his second season, Johnson and rookie teammate Travis Jervey, memorably bought a pet lion and kept it at the home they shared together in Green Bay. They named it Nala, inspired by 'The Lion King.'
If convicted, Johnson could face a maximum penalty of five years and a $250,000 fine for each count. The FBI's Shreveport Resident Agency office is investigating the case.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Packers running back LeShon Johnson charged in dog fighting bust
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