A former professional football player has been indicted as part of what authorities are calling the largest dogfighting bust in FBI history. The Department of Justice announced that LeShon Eugene Johnson, a 54-year-old former NFL running back, was charged in connection with an alleged dog breeding and trafficking operation suspected of supporting organized dogfighting.
Federal officials seized 190 pit bulls during the investigation, which focused on property in Broken Arrow and Haskell, Oklahoma. According to the indictment, Johnson is accused of operating a large-scale dogfighting enterprise under the name “Mal Kant Kennels.” Authorities say the operation included the breeding of dogs specifically trained and used for fighting. The DOJ alleges that Johnson benefited financially from the operation and played a role in expanding the underground dogfighting industry.
LeShon Johnson was drafted in 1994 by the Green Bay Packers and later played for the Arizona Cardinals and the New York Giants during his NFL career. He has not played professional football in over two decades.
Investigators say they obtained substantial digital evidence linking Johnson to the alleged operation, including communications on social media, emails discussing dog pedigrees, and financial transactions on platforms such as Cash App. The materials reportedly connect Johnson to the buying, selling, and training of dogs for illegal fights.
If convicted, Johnson faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
“This type of animal abuse is cruel, depraved, and deserves severe punishment,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi in a statement following the indictment. “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.”
The FBI has identified dogfighting and other forms of animal cruelty as indicators of broader organized criminal activity. Officials believe that animal abuse often intersects with other serious offenses, including drug trafficking and violent crime.
“The FBI views animal cruelty investigations as a precursor to larger, organized crime efforts, similar to trafficking and homicides,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This is yet another push in the FBI’s crackdown of violent offenders harming our most innocent.”
200 dogs bred for fighting at LeShon Johnson’s kennels. DOJ’s Bondi vows to prosecute, but we need a dedicated animal cruelty team to end this cruelty. Congress needs to pass the ACE Act! https://t.co/2LG1T36Bes
— Animal Wellness Action (@AWAction_News) March 26, 2025
Court records also show that Johnson has a history with similar offenses. In 2004, he pleaded guilty to related charges stemming from a separate dogfighting operation named “Krazyside Kennels.” That earlier case involved similar allegations regarding the breeding and fighting of pit bulls.
EXCLUSIVE – I spoke with a person who says they were one of the people who tipped off the feds…. Also here are just some of the pictures, I’m told, the feds used to build their case against Leshon Eugene Johnson, 51, a former NFL player from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
From the… pic.twitter.com/7zIeNZJqtq
— Paul Mueller (@RealPaulMueller) March 27, 2025
Johnson remains in federal custody, and the case will proceed through the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma. No court date has been announced for a trial. Further details are expected as the investigation continues.
