Photo via Shutterstock
Photo via Shutterstock Photo via Shutterstock more >
LeShon Johnson, a former running back with the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants, has been indicted and accused of breeding fighting dogs in Oklahoma.
Mr. Johnson’s indictment was filed in January and unsealed recently, the Justice Department explained in a release Tuesday.
He is accused of keeping pit bulls, having them achieve “champion” and “grand champion” status by winning three and five fights, respectively, then selling stud rights and their offspring to other dog fighting operations.
Among the dogs Mr. Johnson purportedly kept, fought and bred was Hogg, which he advertised as having won eight fights, according to court documents.
Federal agents seized 190 dogs from Mr. Johnson’s Mal Kant Kennels in the Oklahoma towns of Broken Arrow and Haskell in October, believed to be the largest number of dogs taken from a person in a federal dog fighting case.
Mr. Johnson, 54, has been charged with 20 counts of possessing a dog for use in an animal fighting venture and one count of sale, transport and delivery of a dog for use in an animal fighting venture, according to court documents.
If he’s convicted, Mr. Johnson would face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count.
“Animal abuse is cruel, depraved, and deserves severe punishment. The Department of Justice will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law and will remain committed to protecting innocent animals from those who would do them harm,” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said.
This case is not the first time Mr. Johnson has faced legal trouble for dog fighting.
In 2004, he was hit with state charges as part of his operation of Krazyside Kennels, according to the Broken Arrow Sentinel.
Some of the more serious charges were dropped, and Mr. Johnson pleaded guilty to the remaining charges in 2005. He got a deferred sentence of five years and was ordered to pay $8,000 in restitution.
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.
Copyright © 2025 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.