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The Hill
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Hill
Ex-NFL player convicted in Oklahoma of dog-fighting-related charges after 190 dogs seized
TULSA, Okla. (KNWA/KFTA) — A former NFL player and Oklahoma native has been convicted of multiple federal charges months after officials seized 190 dogs from an alleged animal fighting venture, according to court documents. LeShon Eugene Johnson, 54, of Broken Arrow, was convicted by a federal jury Friday of three counts of possession of a dog for use in an animal fighting venture, two counts of sale 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. The conviction came at the end of a five-day jury trial. Johnson originally faced nearly two dozen dog-fighting-related charges, court records show. Officials said in a March news release that 190 'pit bull-type dogs' were seized from Johnson in October 2024. At the time, it was believed to be the largest number of dogs ever seized from a single person in a federal dog-fighting case. Court documents said that Johnson ran a dog-fighting operation known as 'Mal Kant Kennels' in both Broken Arrow and Haskell, Oklahoma. He pleaded guilty to state animal fighting charges in 2004 after running 'Krazyside Kennels' in Oklahoma. 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 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, officials said. '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. Johnson faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count. A sentencing date in his case has not yet been scheduled. 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.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ex-NFL player charged after 190 dogs seized from Oklahoma dog fighting venture
Editor's Note: This story contains graphic content. 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Fox News
26-03-2025
- Fox News
Former NFL player LeShon Johnson charged in FBI's largest dog fighting bust, 190 animals seized: indictment
Former NFL running back LeShon Eugene Johnson has been indicted on 21 charges in a massive federal dog fighting bust that led to the recovery of 190 pit bulls, according to the Justice Department. Federal authorities said they believe it's their largest seizure of fighting dogs from a single individual in U.S. history. Johnson, a 54-year-old from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, is accused of operating a large-scale breeding and trafficking operation known as "Mal Kant Kennels" as well as raising fighting dogs himself. He pleaded guilty to similar charges at the state level in 2004. "This strategic prosecution of an alleged repeat offender led to the seizure of 190 dogs destined for a cruel end," said acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson. "It disrupts a major source of dogs used in other dog fighting ventures." Johnson allegedly raised "champion" and "grand champion" fighting pit bulls and then sold breeding rights around the country. Some of the dogs' names were War Pony, Boot Stomper and Hogg, the latter of which was purported to have won eight fights. Prosecutors said that is an unusually high number of victories, because dogs often suffer mortal injuries during brutal fights. To become a "grand champion," a dog needs to win five. A "champion" wins three. "Animal abuse is cruel, depraved, and deserves severe punishment," Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. "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 filings, a trove of evidence was recovered from Johnson's phone, including text messages, a Facebook page, CashApp history, emails discussing sales and even pedigrees for the dogs. Authorities also seized dogs at two separate properties owned by Johnson. FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau views animal cruelty cases as a stepping stone to organized crime, including trafficking and murder. "The FBI will not tolerate criminals that harm innocent animals for their twisted form of entertainment," he said in a statement. Johnson was indicted in January, court records show, but the court unsealed the filing this week after his arrest on Thursday in Muskogee. The dogs were seized from his property in October 2024 under the Animal Welfare Act, according to federal prosecutors, who said they believe the 190 animals mark the largest seizure from a single person in such a case. Johnson, who played for the Packers, Cardinals and Giants during a six-year NFL career in the 1990s, was part of a 2014 class action lawsuit accusing the NFL of failing to protect players from concussions. He faces up to five years in prison on each count if convicted and a $250,000 fine. Fox News Digital reached out to his attorney.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Yahoo
Federal authorities snatch nearly 200 pit bulls in Oklahoma from ex-NFL player in biggest dog-fighting seizure
March 25 (UPI) -- A former NFL player in Oklahoma was accused of allegedly running a large-scale dog fighting and trafficking business with nearly 200 dogs seized in a sting. 51-year-old LeShon Eugene Johnson, of Broken Arrow, has been charged with multiple violations related to the federal Animal Welfare Act, according to an unsealed grand jury indictment Tuesday by a U.S. district court in Oklahoma's eastern district. "Dog fighting is illegal, and courts have upheld its prosecution time and again," Acting U.S. Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of DOJ's Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), stated in a release. A former player on the Green Bay Packers from 1994-1995, Johnson is charged with possessing, selling, transporting and delivering a dog for use in an animal fighting venture. Federal authorities say Johnson's dogs were the highest number ever confiscated from a single person in a U.S. dog-fighting case when 190 pit bulls were seized from his residence in October near E. 41st St. S. and County Line Road in Broken Arrow, the largest suburb in Tulsa. He made an initial court appearance last week. It's illegal under federal law to fight dogs in a venture that crosses state lines affecting interstate commerce. It's also illegal to train, transport, deliver, sell, purchase to receive dogs for fighting purposes. "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," DOJ officials say. In 1998, Johnson's career was temporarily interrupted by lymphoma cancer but managed to rebound by 1999 with a spot on the New York Giants. He finished sixth in the 1993 Heisman Trophy voting race but his football career ended in the XFL with the Chicago Enforcers. He pleaded guilty in 2004 to similar charges as operator of "Krazyside Kennels." "This strategic prosecution of an alleged repeat offender led to the seizure of 190 dogs destined for a cruel end. It disrupts a major source of dogs used in other dog fighting ventures," added DOJ's Gustafson. According to new court documents, Johnson ran at least two dog fighting operations called "Mal Kant Kennels" in Haskell, where he was born, and his town of Broken Arrow with its more than 113,000 residents in Tulsa County. In February, authorities likewise seized 10 pit bull dogs when a Florida man was sentenced to seven years in prison for a felony gun possession charge and conspiring to operate a dogfighting ring in Massachusetts, Florida and Connecticut. Meanwhile, a former official in the U.S. Department of Defense in December was sentenced to 18 months in a federal prison for participating in a multi-state dogfighting conspiracy in brutal fights which abused and killed the dogs, and a man was slapped with 46 months in jail in a separate case in July 2023. The FBI's office in Shreveport, meanwhile, has been investigating Johnson's case. Johnson, if convicted, faces a maximum penalty on each count of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
