Ex-NFL player charged after 190 dogs seized from Oklahoma dog fighting venture
TULSA, Okla. (KNWA/KFTA) — A former NFL player and Oklahoma native is facing federal charges after officials seized 190 dogs from an alleged animal fighting venture, according to court documents.
LeShon Eugene Johnson is facing 20 counts of possession of a dog for use in an animal fighting venture and one count of sale, transport, and delivery of a dog for use in an animal fighting venture.
An unsealed indictment in the Eastern District of Oklahoma said Johnson violated the dog fighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act.
Johnson made his first court appearance last week, the district said in a news release.
Court records show federal officials seized 190 'pit bull-type dogs' from Johnson in October 2024. Officials believe it to be the largest number of dogs ever seized from a single person in a federal dog fighting case.
Johnson is accused of running a dog fighting operation known as 'Mal Kant Kennels' in both Broken Arrow and Haskell, Oklahoma, according to court documents.
He previously pleaded guilty to state animal fighting charges in 2004 after running 'Krazyside Kennels' in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma bill limiting children's access to social media passes House
The district said Johnson would selectively breed 'champion' and 'grand champion' fighting dogs — those that have won between three and five fights — to produce offspring with fighting traits and abilities desired by him and others for use in dog fights.
He would allegedly market and sell stud rights and offspring from winning fighting dogs to other dog fighters looking to incorporate his kennel's bloodline into their own dog-fighting operations.
'His trafficking of fighting dogs to other dog fighters across the country contributed to the growth of the dog fighting industry and allowed Johnson to profit financially,' the release said.
If convicted, authorities said Johnson could face a maximum penalty on each count of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
A pretrial hearing in the case is set for April 10, and the jury trial is scheduled to start on May 5 in Muskogee.
Johnson was a running back and kick returner in the NFL for six seasons during the 1990s. He was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 1994 NFL draft and also played for the Arizona Cardinals and the New York Giants.
Before his NFL career, Johnson played for the Northern Illinois Huskies in college, and in 1993, he finished sixth in Heisman Trophy voting, with five first-place votes.
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