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 an extensive dogfighting operation that led to the seizure of 190 dogs, the largest number ever confiscated from a single individual in a federal dogfighting probe, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The charges against Johnson include possessing pit bull-type dogs for use in animal fighting and selling dogs for similar purposes.

Authorities seized the dogs from Johnson in October 2024, as he reportedly operated a dogfighting venture named "Mal Kant Kennels" in both Broken Arrow and Haskell, Oklahoma. Johnson has a history of animal fighting-related offenses, having previously pleaded guilty to state charges in 2004, for which he received a five-year deferred sentence.

The indictment alleges that Johnson bred dogs that had participated in multiple fights, earning him financial gains through the sale of "stud rights" and their offspring to other dogfighters across the U.S. The operation purportedly contributed to the growth of the dogfighting industry.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the severity of animal cruelty in her statement, affirming the Department of Justice’s commitment to prosecuting such cases aggressively to protect innocent animals. The FBI also expressed its stance against animal cruelty, linking it to larger organized crime issues.

If convicted, Johnson faces significant penalties, including up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count. Johnson, who played as a running back for the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, and New York Giants from 1994 to 1999, has not had his lawyer comment on the case.