Former NFL Player Sentenced
Former NFL Running Back LeShon Johnson Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Dogfighting
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Key Points
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The six convictions comprised three counts of possessing dogs for use in an animal-fighting venture, two counts of selling dogs for that purpose, and one count involving selling, transporting and delivering a dog for fighting. Johnson was not charged with conducting actual fights.
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Prosecutors said Johnson operated Mal Kant Kennels from both Broken Arrow and Haskell, Oklahoma, and sold not only puppies but also stud rights to dogfighters seeking to add his bloodlines to their operations.
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The “champion” and “grand champion” labels used to market Johnson’s dogs referred to animals that had survived three and five illegal fights, respectively, according to evidence presented at trial.
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Johnson’s 2004 Oklahoma conviction resulted in a five-year deferred sentence, rather than immediate imprisonment; prosecutors cited that outcome and his repeat conduct in seeking a 10-year federal sentence.
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The federal investigation was described as being spearheaded jointly by the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division; the Marshals Service is responsible for caring for the seized dogs through its asset-forfeiture program.
Former NFL running back LeShon Johnson was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for operating a massive dogfighting and trafficking operation in Oklahoma, according to WSJM. Johnson, 55, was convicted on six felony counts tied to Mal Kant Kennels, which prosecutors say he ran since at least 2007, breeding and selling pit bulls marketed as champion fighting bloodlines. Authorities seized or obtained surrender of 190 dogs—the largest seizure from a single individual in a federal dogfighting case—and Johnson also received three years of supervised release plus a $30,000 fine.
The case marks Johnson's second dogfighting conviction. He pleaded guilty to Oklahoma state charges in 2004 but received only a five-year deferred sentence, meaning no immediate prison time. Prosecutors cited that prior conviction and his repeat conduct in requesting a 10-year federal term, arguing Johnson had ignored the earlier warning and continued his illegal operation for years.
How Johnson Bred and Sold Fighting Dogs
Johnson operated Mal Kant Kennels from locations in Broken Arrow and Haskell, Oklahoma. He didn't just breed dogs—he sold puppies and stud rights to dogfighters across the country. According to Yahoo News, the "champion" and "grand champion" labels used to market his animals referred to pit bulls that had survived three and five illegal fights, respectively. This marketing strategy helped Johnson earn hundreds of thousands of dollars from his operation.
The six convictions broke down into three separate counts of possessing dogs for animal fighting, two counts of selling dogs for that purpose, and one count involving selling, transporting and delivering a dog for fighting. Notably, Johnson was not charged with actually conducting the fights themselves—only with breeding, selling and moving the animals to others who would use them.
190 Dogs Seized in Record Single-Person Case
The Justice Department called the 190-dog seizure the largest ever recovered from one individual in a federal dogfighting case. The Archynetys investigation was jointly spearheaded by the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Justice Department's Energy and Natural Resources Division. The U.S. Marshals Service took responsibility for caring for the seized animals through its asset-forfeiture program, a massive undertaking given the scale of Johnson's operation.
Prior Conviction Failed to Stop Johnson's Operation
Johnson's 2004 Oklahoma dogfighting conviction should have served as a warning. Instead of going to prison, he received a deferred sentence—a five-year probation period with the possibility that charges would be dropped if he complied. Prosecutors emphasized that Johnson ignored this opportunity for a second chance. He continued operating Mal Kant Kennels for years after his state conviction, breeding and trafficking dogs for the illegal fighting circuit.
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