Ex-NFL RB LeShon Johnson sentenced to 5 years for dog fighting

Former NFL running back LeShon Johnson has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for operating a large-scale dog-fighting operation in Oklahoma that resulted in the deaths and serious injuries of hundreds of dogs.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Johnson, 55, was sentenced Thursday after being convicted of six federal felonies related to an animal-fighting venture.

Johnson pleaded his case in an Oklahoma federal court after prosecutors accused him of breeding and trafficking pit bulls through an operation known as Mal Kant Kennels.

Former NFL Running Back Convicted on Six Felony Counts

Johnson was convicted in August on six counts, including three counts of possessing a dog for use in an animal-fighting venture, two counts of selling a dog for use in an animal-fighting venture, and one count involving the sale, transportation and delivery of a dog for use in an animal-fighting venture.

In addition to his five-year federal prison sentence, Johnson was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $30,000 fine.

The DOJ said Johnson surrendered 190 dogs to the government following his conviction. Prosecutors described the seizure as the largest number of dogs taken from a single individual in a federal dog-fighting case.

Operation Allegedly Spanned Nearly Two Decades

Federal officials said Johnson had been operating Mal Kant Kennels in Oklahoma since at least 2007.

According to the DOJ, Johnson bred pit bulls specifically to produce offspring with traits associated with dog fighting. The operation reportedly involved breeding dogs that had been labeled “champion” and “grand champion” fighting dogs.

In the dog-fighting world, a champion is typically a dog that has won three fights, while a grand champion is generally a dog that has won five fights.

Authorities said the operation resulted in death and serious bodily injury to hundreds of pit bulls.

Johnson’s NFL Career

Before becoming involved in the breeding operation, Johnson played professional football in the NFL.

The running back played for three NFL teams between 1994 and 1999. Johnson entered the league after playing college football at the University of Northern Iowa and went on to spend several seasons in professional football.

His NFL career included time with the Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears.

Johnson’s five-year federal sentence now brings an end to a case that federal authorities described as one of the largest dog-fighting prosecutions involving a single individual.

The 190 dogs surrendered by Johnson remain a significant part of the case and underscore the scale of the operation described by federal prosecutors.