OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma — LeShon Eugene Johnson, a former NFL running back once celebrated for his athleticism, has made history for far darker reasons.
A federal jury convicted the 54-year-old Oklahoma native on six felony counts related to operating one of the largest single-suspect dogfighting ring in U.S. history, the Department of Justice announced this week. Authorities rescued 190 pit bull-type dogs from Johnson’s rural property, a record-breaking seizure in a case involving just one person.
Johnson’s illegal operation, known as Mal Kant Kennels, bred and sold so-called “champion” and “grand champion” fighting dogs, along with stud rights and offspring to other dogfighting participants. Prosecutors said the ring was profitable, brutal and deeply involved in organized animal abuse.
“This criminal profited off of the misery of innocent animals,” U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said. “We will continue to fight until this kind of cruelty is eradicated.”
Johnson now faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each federal count. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
ESPN reports that Johnson’s defense argued he was a legitimate breeder and called the 40-officer federal raid “overly aggressive.”
The case draws comparisons to the infamous Michael Vick dogfighting scandal in 2007. While Vick’s “Bad Newz Kennels” case involved 50 dogs and led to 23 months in prison, Johnson’s case now holds the record for the largest federal dog seizure tied to a single individual.
The dogs seized from Johnson remain in government custody. Officials are pursuing permanent forfeiture, which would allow the animals to be rehomed or transferred to shelters, depending on behavior and health evaluations.
Before his life running the dog-fighting ring, Johnson was a standout athlete in college. He rushed for 1,976 yards at Northern Illinois University in 1993, earning unanimous All-American honors. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1994 and went on to play for the Packers, Cardinals and Giants over a five-year NFL career.
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