LeShon Johnson, former NFL running back, whose actions led to heavy legal penalties. He was convicted for his part in a massive, interstate dogfighting operation that had spread across the entire country. Johnson, who was originally from Oklahoma, operated Mal Kant Kennels in Broken Arrow and Haskell, OK. He particularly liked pit bull-type dogs, which he bred for their exceptional fighting skills. On the sixth day of his trial, Timothy was convicted on six felony charges of being in possession of dogs for use in an animal fighting venture.
The conviction comes with serious repercussions. For each count, Johnson faces up to five years in prison, as well as a fine of up to $250,000. The U.S. Marshals Service has now seized 190 dogs from his kennels. This action is the bottom line of an investigation that revealed the complete nature of his scheme. Throughout the course of the trial, testimony showed that Johnson made money by breeding dogs that had fought and won several different fights. He even sold “stud rights” and their offspring to other dogfighters, enriching the entire dogfighting industry in the process.
Johnson’s history of legal problems includes a guilty plea for state animal fighting charges back in 2004 in Oklahoma. Unsurprisingly, his attorney, Billy Coyle, argues that Johnson was just a breeder and not directly involved in dogfighting.
“He was simply a breeder of the American pit bull terrier,” – Billy Coyle
The military court had already acquitted him of 17 similar charges. Yet the ongoing legal precedent based on these six felony counts points to the intention of his fraudulent behavior. And as the FBI has made clear in recent years, they take a hardline stance against dogfighting along with the syndicate crime that accompanies it.
“The FBI will not stand for those who perpetuate the despicable crime of dogfighting,” – FBI Director Kash Patel
Johnson enjoyed a solid NFL career from 1994 to 1999. He demonstrated that talent as a wide receiver with the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants. That legacy has now been turned on its head by his legacy in animal cruelty.
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