Ex-NFL Star Convicted in Dogfighting, Trafficking Case

Former NFL running back LeShon Johnson has been convicted on six felony counts for running Mal Kant Kennels, a large-scale dogfighting and trafficking operation in Oklahoma. Authorities seized 190 dogs from Johnson—the largest number ever confiscated from a single person in a federal dogfighting case. Prosecutors stated Johnson bred and sold 'champion' and 'grand champion' fighting dogs, profiting from fights and selling their offspring to other dogfighters nationwide. Johnson was previously convicted of similar offenses in 2004, and his defense argued he was primarily a breeder, a claim rejected by the jury. He faces up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines per count, with sentencing pending. The case highlights ongoing federal efforts to combat organized animal cruelty in the U.S.