A former NFL player was convicted last week by a federal jury of six counts related to dogfighting, the U.S. Department of Justice said.
LeShon Johnson was convicted by a federal jury in Oklahoma on six felony counts of violating the federal Animal Welfare Act’s prohibitions against possessing, selling, transporting and delivering animals to be used in fighting ventures.
Johnson, 53, was ordered to surrender 190 dogs, which is the largest number ever of animals seized from a single person in a federal dog fighting case. The United States Marshals Service is caring for the dogs that were seized.
Johnson was previously convicted of dog fighting in 2004, when more than 200 dogs were seized and nearly two dozen people were convicted. Johnson received a five-year deferred sentence in that case.
“Dog fighting is a vicious and cruel crime that has no place in a civilized society,” U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma said in a statement. “I commend the hard work of our law enforcement partners in investigating this case and holding the defendant accountable for his crimes.”
Johnson faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count, and will be sentenced at a later date. Johnson was originally charged with multiple felonies, according to an indictment filed in January, and obtained by USA TODAY Sports, including 19 counts of possession of a dog for use in an animal fighting venture, and one count of transporting and delivering of a dog for dogfighting purposes.
According to an unsealed indictment, Johnson was in control of Mal Kant Kennels in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and Krazy Side Kennels in Haskell, Oklahoma, where Johnson bred and trafficked “champion” and “grand champion” fighting dogs and their offspring for dogfighting.
Johnson was a third-round pick in the 1994 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. He also played for the Arizona Cardinals and the New York Giants during his career, which ended in 1999.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeShon Johnson, ex-NFL RB, found guilty in federal dogfighting case
