Nearly 200 dogs seized from ex-NFL player in dogfighting case

BROKEN ARROW, Okla. (AP) - LeShon Johnson, a former NFL running back, has been indicted for allegedly running a significant dogfighting operation that led to the seizure of 190 dogs, marking the largest number ever confiscated from an individual during a federal dogfighting investigation, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The indictment charges Johnson with possessing pit bull-type dogs for use in an animal fighting venture and for the sale and transport of dogs for the same purpose.

The dogs were taken from Johnson in October 2024, with reports indicating he operated under the name "Mal Kant Kennels" in Broken Arrow and Haskell, Oklahoma. This operation has brought renewed scrutiny on animal abuse, with Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasizing that such actions are cruel and warrant severe penalties.

Johnson's legal troubles are not new; he previously accepted a deferred sentence for state animal fighting charges in 2004. His lawyer, Courtney R. Jordan, has refrained from commenting on the current case. The Justice Department alleges that Johnson bred champions that had won multiple fights and profited from selling their “stud rights” and offspring to other dogfighters, thereby facilitating the growth of the dogfighting industry across the United States.

If found guilty of the charges, Johnson could face up to five years in prison for each count and a possible financial penalty of $250,000. FBI Director Kash Patel noted that animal cruelty investigations often reflect broader criminal activities and are a critical focus for the agency.

Johnson's football career spanned from 1994 to 1999, during which he played for the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, and New York Giants, before finding himself entangled in serious legal issues.