Ex-NFL Player LeShon Johnson Involved in Dog Fighting: Close to 200 Dogs Confiscated from 'Mal Kant Kennels' in Oklahoma - Internewscast Journal

Former NFL player LeShon Johnson has been indicted for allegedly running a substantial dogfighting operation that led to the seizure of 190 dogs, marking a record for a single individual in a federal dogfighting investigation, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Charged with possessing pit bull-type dogs for use in animal fighting, Johnson also faces allegations of selling and transporting dogs for the same purpose.

The dogs were confiscated from Johnson’s operations in October 2024, where he reportedly operated under the name "Mal Kant Kennels" in Broken Arrow and Haskell, Oklahoma. This case underscores the severity of animal cruelty, with U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi affirming the commitment to prosecute such offenses to protect innocent animals.

Johnson has a prior conviction for state animal fighting charges in Oklahoma from 2004, for which he received a five-year deferred sentence. His current allegations include breeding dogs that had reportedly won several fights and selling their offspring and "stud rights" to other dogfighters across the U.S., contributing to the broader dogfighting industry and generating personal profit.

If convicted on the current charges, Johnson could face up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each count. The FBI, involved in the investigation, emphasizes that animal cruelty often links to larger organized crime, equating it with trafficking and homicide cases.

During his football career from 1994 to 1999, Johnson played as a running back for the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, and New York Giants, and he was inducted into the Northern Illinois University Hall of Fame in 2003. His attorney, Courtney R. Jordan, has not commented on the ongoing case.