Former NFL running back LeShon Johnson has been convicted on federal charges tied to a large-scale dogfighting operation in Oklahoma, federal prosecutors confirmed.
A jury found Johnson guilty on six felony counts of possessing dogs for use in an animal-fighting venture. He was acquitted of 17 other related counts. The 54-year-old now faces up to five years in prison for each conviction and fines of up to $250,000 per count. His sentencing date has not yet been scheduled, according to an article written by Yahoo Sports’s Sean Leahy.
“This conviction sends a strong message that those who abuse animals for entertainment and profit will face serious consequences under federal law,” said Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “We are committed to aggressively prosecuting individuals who perpetuate the brutal practice of dog fighting.”
According to court records, Johnson operated an illegal dogfighting ring under the name “Mal Kant Kennels” out of Broken Arrow and Haskell, Oklahoma. Prosecutors say he bred “champion” and “grand champion” pit bulls, marketing their bloodlines for fighting purposes.
Johnson was arrested in March 2025 following a months-long investigation. A week after his arrest, he was indicted by a federal grand jury after 190 dogs were seized from his properties in October 2024 under the Animal Welfare Act.
Johnson’s defense attorney, Billy Coyle, argued that his client was simply a breeder of American pit bull terriers. “Obviously the jury found that some of his dogs bred were probably or were used in dog fighting, and those were difficult charges to fight,” Coyle said following the verdict.
This is not Johnson’s first legal issue tied to dogfighting. In 2004, he pleaded guilty to state charges in Oklahoma after running “Krazyside Kennels.” He received a five-year deferred sentence according to public record.
Johnson played five seasons in the NFL between 1994 and 1999 after being drafted in the third round out of Northern Illinois. He spent time with the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, and New York Giants.
The Justice Department emphasized that this conviction is part of a broader crackdown on illegal animal fighting operations across the country.