Former NFL running back LeShon Eugene Johnson has been charged in the biggest federal dog-fighting bust of all time – over two decades after pleading guilty to a similar offense.
Johnson, who played for the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants over the course of his six-year career, was indicted on 21 charges in a huge raid that led to the recovery of 190 pit bulls back in October, according to the US Justice Department.
The FBI believe it was the largest seizure of fighting dogs from a single individual in US history.
Johnson is accused of running a large-scale breeding and trafficking operation known as ‘Mal Kant Kennels’ while also raising fighting dogs himself.
The 54-year-old Oklahoma native allegedly trained ‘champion’ and ‘grand champion’ pit bulls before selling breeding rights around the country.
Back in 2004, he pleaded guilty to similar charges at state level after operating the ‘Krazyside Kennels’, which earned him a five-year deferred sentence.
Former NFL running back LeShon Eugene Johnson has been charged in the biggest federal dog-fighting bust of all time
The FBI allegedly recovered 190 pit bulls from Johnson in a huge raid back in October
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This time around, Johnson allegedly raised champion fighting dogs with names such as ‘War Pony’, ‘Boot Stomper’ and ‘Hogg’ – the latter of which reportedly won eight fights.
According to prosecutors, that is an unusually high number of victories given dogs often suffer fatal injuries during fights.
To become a ‘grand champion’ a dog needs to win five times, while ‘champion’ status is given after three.
‘Animal abuse is cruel, depraved, and deserves severe punishment,’ Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement.
‘The Department of Justice will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law and will remain committed to protecting innocent animals from those who would do them harm.’
Court records show that Johnson was indicted in January, three months after the dogs were seized from his property under the Animal Welfare Act, per Fox News. The court unsealed the filing this week after his arrest last Thursday in Muskogee.
Evidence was allegedly recovered from his mobile phone, before authorities seized dogs at two separate properties belonging to the ex-NFL player.
Johnson, who now faces up to five years in prison on each count if convicted and a $250k fine, was part of a 2014 class action lawsuit accusing the NFL of failing to protect its players from concussions.
