What is your reaction to former NFL running back LeShon Johnson being convicted for operating one of the largest dogfighting rings in U.S. history?
Ex-NFL Star LeShon Johnson Convicted in Record-Breaking Dogfighting Case
Former NFL running back LeShon Eugene Johnson, who played for the Packers, Cardinals, and Giants from 1994 to 1999, has been convicted on six felony counts for his role in a massive Oklahoma dogfighting operation. Federal prosecutors say Johnson ran "Mal Kant Kennels," breeding and selling champion fighting dogs, generating more than $400,000 in revenue over four years. Authorities seized 190 pit bull–type dogs from his properties — the largest number ever confiscated from a single defendant in a federal dogfighting case. Johnson faces up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines per count at sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. He was acquitted on 17 additional counts, with his defense claiming he was merely a breeder. This marks Johnson’s second dogfighting-related conviction, following a 2004 Oklahoma state case. Federal officials say the case sends a strong message against animal cruelty, while the dogs remain under U.S. Marshals Service care pending permanent placement. The conviction has sparked public outrage and renewed calls for tougher penalties on organized animal fighting.
Options
- Outraged — maximum sentence needed
- Disappointed but not surprised
- He deserves a second chance
- No opinion