(WFRV) – In what is said to have been “the largest number of dogs ever seized from a single person,” a former Green Bay Packers draft pick has officially been charged for multiple violations related to dog fighting.
According to a release from the United States Department of Justice, LeShon Eugene Johnson, a third-round draft selection of the Green Bay Packers, had 190 pit bull-type dogs seized from him in October 2024 under the Animal Welfare Act.
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Officials say that court documents showed Johnson to run the dog fighting organization known as “Mal Kant Kennels” in both Broken Arrow and Haskell, Oklahoma. He is also said to have run another dog fighting operation, “Krazyside Kennels,” which led to a guilty plea on state animal fighting charges in 2004.
Johnson, allegedly, selectively bred “champion” and “grand champion” fighting dogs to produce offspring with the fighting traits and abilities that he and others desired for use in fighting dogs.
Officials say he also marketed and sold stud rights and offspring to other dog fighters that were looking to bring the Mal Kant Kennels “bloodline” to their own dog fighting operations.
Johnson is said to have profited financially from his reported trafficking of the fighting dogs to other dog fighters across the country.
Under federal law, it is illegal to possess, train transport deliver, sell, purchase, or receive dogs for dog fighting purposes.
Animal abuse is cruel, depraved, and deserves severe punishment. 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.
United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi
Johnson made an initial court appearance earlier in March and has had a grand jury indictment recently charge him with the following:
- Possessing 190 pit bull-type dogs for use in an animal fighting venture
- Selling, transporting, and delivering a dog for use in an animal fighting venture
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If convicted, officials say Johnson will face up to five years in prison per each count and a $250,000 fine.
The FBI will not tolerate criminals that harm innocent animals for their twisted form of entertainment. The FBI views animal cruelty investigations as a precursor to larger, organized crime efforts, similar to trafficking and homicides. This is yet another push in the FBI’s crackdown of violent offenders harming our most innocent.
FBI Director Kash Patel
The standout college football running back played 14 games for the Green and Gold between 1994 and 1995 tallying 97 rushing yards on 27 attempts and 168 receiving yards on 13 receptions.
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