Tulsa, OK – Former NFL running back LeShon Eugene Johnson, 54, has been convicted by a federal jury on multiple dog-fighting-related charges after federal authorities seized 190 pit bull-type dogs from his Oklahoma properties in what is considered one of the largest federal dog-fighting busts in U.S. history.
Jury Delivers Guilty Verdict After Five-Day Trial
On Friday, following a five-day trial in federal court, Johnson was found guilty on six felony counts, including:
- Three counts of possession of a dog for use in an animal fighting venture
- Two counts of sale of a dog for use in an animal fighting venture
- One count of sale, transport, and delivery of a dog for use in an animal fighting venture
Initially, Johnson faced nearly two dozen federal charges, but the six convictions stand as a significant win for federal prosecutors and animal rights investigators.
Largest Dog Seizure From a Single Individual
According to a March 2025 DOJ release, federal agents seized 190 dogs from Johnson’s properties in Broken Arrow and Haskell, Oklahoma in October 2024. Authorities described it as the largest number of dogs ever seized from one person in a federal animal fighting case.
Court documents revealed that Johnson operated an illegal dog-fighting network called “Mal Kant Kennels,” where he selectively bred and trained dogs to fight.
He focused on breeding “champion” and “grand champion” fighting dogs — animals with a record of winning multiple violent bouts — and profited by selling their offspring and stud services to other dog fighters across the country.
“His trafficking of fighting dogs to other dog fighters across the country contributed to the growth of the dog fighting industry and allowed Johnson to profit financially,” said federal prosecutors in court filings.
Repeat Offender With Prior Animal Cruelty Conviction
This is not Johnson’s first brush with the law related to dog fighting. In 2004, he pleaded guilty to state-level animal fighting charges in Oklahoma for a similar operation known as “Krazyside Kennels.” The recent federal conviction marks a dramatic escalation in legal consequences due to the scale and organization of his latest alleged venture.
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From NFL Star to Federal Convict
Before his fall from grace, LeShon Johnson enjoyed a six-year career in the NFL as a running back and kick returner, playing for the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, and New York Giants.
Drafted in the third round of the 1994 NFL Draft, he was once considered a rising star after finishing sixth in Heisman Trophy voting in 1993 while playing for Northern Illinois University.
Sentencing Still Pending
Each felony count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, meaning Johnson could face decades behind bars if given the maximum sentence. A formal sentencing date has not yet been announced.
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