This week, federal authorities announced the dismantling of a significant dogfighting operation in Oklahoma, operated by former NFL running back LeShon Johnson. The operation resulted in the seizure of 190 pit bulls, marking the largest number of dogs seized from an individual in a federal case to date.
On Tuesday, in a public statement, the Justice Department revealed a 21-count indictment against the 54-year-old Mr. Johnson, which was recently unsealed in a Muskogee, Oklahoma, federal court. He was arrested on March 20, appeared in court the same day, and was subsequently released. According to the charges, which include felonies related to possessing and trafficking dogs for fighting, Johnson could face up to five years in prison plus a $250,000 fine per count if convicted.
Johnson, who had previous stints with the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, and New York Giants in the 1990s, isn’t new to such charges. Back in 2004, he admitted guilt to state dogfighting accusations, receiving a five-year deferred sentence.
“Criminals exploiting animals for entertainment won’t be tolerated by the FBI,” emphasized Kash Patel, the FBI director. In his statement, Patel noted that animal cruelty cases are often precursors to more organized crime, akin to trafficking or even homicide.
Mr. Johnson’s attorney, Courtney R. Jordan, opted not to comment when asked on Wednesday.
Investigators assert that Johnson was involved in breeding “champion” and “grand champion” fighting dogs—those victorious in multiple fights. This was part of his enterprise, known as Mal Kant Kennels, based in Broken Arrow and Haskell, Oklahoma. He reportedly sold breeding rights and descendants of his winning dogs, marketing their competitive bloodlines.
Prosecutors have obtained text messages, emails, and money transfer transactions as evidence of Johnson’s financial gains from the dogfighting ring. The number of dogs seized from his premises is reportedly about triple that found in the infamous property of Michael Vick, another former NFL player who faced prison time for similar charges in the early 2000s.
LeShon Johnson, a standout from Northern Illinois University, had made headlines in 1993 by ranking sixth for the Heisman Trophy. Drafted by the Packers in the third round in 1994, Johnson’s transition to the NFL wasn’t as stellar as his college days, with short-lived tenures at both the Packers and the Arizona Cardinals.
In 1998, Johnson signed with the Giants as a free agent, but his career hit a hurdle when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma the same year. Despite his illness, he managed to score two touchdowns the following season post-chemotherapy and radiation, reported The Oklahoman.
His arrest on animal cruelty grounds brings to mind the saga of Michael Vick, the former Falcons quarterback whose NFL tenure, which included playoff appearances and a Madden game cover, ended abruptly with a dogfighting conviction. After serving 18 months in federal prison and two more in home confinement, Vick returned to play, eventually retiring in 2017 after stints with the Eagles, Jets, and Steelers.
