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

BROKEN ARROW, Okla. (AP) - Former NFL player LeShon Johnson has been indicted for allegedly running a large dogfighting operation, which led to the seizure of 190 dogs—the highest number taken from a single individual in a federal dogfighting case, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Johnson has been charged with possessing pit bull-type dogs intended for use in animal fighting, as well as for selling, transporting, and delivering dogs for the same purpose. The dogs were seized in October 2024 from Johnson's operation, known as "Mal Kant Kennels," located in Broken Arrow and Haskell, Oklahoma.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the seriousness of animal abuse and affirmed the commitment of the Department of Justice to pursue the case vigorously, ensuring that those who harm animals face severe consequences. Johnson's background includes a previous guilty plea to state animal fighting charges in 2004, for which he received a five-year deferred sentence.

According to court documents, Johnson is accused of breeding dogs with multiple fight victories and selling their "stud rights" and offspring to other dogfighters across the United States, thus contributing to the expansion of the dogfighting industry for personal profit. If convicted, he faces the possibility of five years in prison on each charge and a substantial fine.

FBI Director Kash Patel remarked that the agency treats animal cruelty investigations as indicative of broader organized crime activities. Johnson, a running back who played for the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, and New York Giants from 1994 to 1999, now faces significant legal repercussions stemming from these allegations.