After a multi-day trial, a federal jury in Oklahoma convicted former NFL player, Leshon Eugene Johnson, 54, of Broken Arrow, on six felony counts for violating the Animal Welfare Act by possessing, selling, transporting, and delivering dogs for use in fighting ventures, officials announced Monday.
“Dog fighting is a vicious and cruel crime that has no place in a civilized society,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
Following the guilty verdict, Johnson surrendered 190 dogs that were seized during the investigation. The federal government is now pursuing forfeiture of the animals, according to federal officials.
The U.S. Marshals Service, through its asset forfeiture program, is responsible for the care and custody of dogs seized in federal dog fighting cases.
The conviction stems from a March indictment detailing Johnson’s operation of “Mal Kant Kennels,” where he bred and sold “champion” and “grand champion” fighting dogs and their offspring for use in dog fighting. The jury heard that Johnson profited from the illegal and brutal enterprise.
Authorities seized 190 dogs from Johnson’s property—the largest number ever taken from a single individual in a federal dog fighting case.
USA TODAY NEWS VIDEO OF JOHNSON’S ARREST
Johnson, who was previously convicted of state dog fighting charges in 2004, will be sentenced at a later date. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count, officials stated.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s New Orleans Field Office.