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

Former NFL player LeShon Johnson has been indicted for allegedly operating a large-scale dogfighting venture, resulting in the seizure of 190 dogs—reportedly the largest number taken from a single individual in a federal dogfighting investigation, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The indictment includes charges of possessing pit bull-type dogs for use in animal fighting and for the sale, transport, and delivery of dogs for similar purposes.

The dogs were seized from Johnson in October 2024, with evidence suggesting he ran the dogfighting operation known as "Mal Kant Kennels" in Broken Arrow and Haskell, Oklahoma. The operation purportedly engaged in breeding dogs that had fought multiple times and selling their offspring and "stud rights" to other dogfighters, thereby contributing to the growth of the dogfighting industry.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the cruelty of animal abuse and affirmed the Department of Justice's commitment to prosecuting such cases rigorously. Johnson's legal history includes a guilty plea in 2004 to state animal fighting charges for which he received a five-year deferred sentence.

If convicted on the current federal charges, Johnson could face a significant penalty—up to five years in prison for each count along with a potential fine of $250,000. The FBI, represented by Director Kash Patel, reinforced that animal cruelty is taken seriously, linking it to broader organized crime concerns.

Johnson, who played in the NFL as a running back for teams including the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, and New York Giants from 1994 to 1999, is currently facing serious allegations that could have lasting legal and personal repercussions.