Former NFL Player Sentenced To Five Years In Prison, Here’s Why

LeShon Johnson, a former NFL running back, was sentenced to five years in prison for his role in a dogfighting ring described by the Justice Department as a “major operation.”

“Former NFL player LeShon Johnson of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $30,000 fine after being convicted at trial of six dog fighting-related charges,” the Justice Department announced.

He was convicted of “three counts of possessing a dog for use in an animal fighting venture, two counts of selling a dog for use in an animal fighting venture, and one count of sale, transport and delivery of a dog for use in an animal fighting venture,” ESPN stated.

Ex-NFLer LeShon Johnson sentenced to five years for dog-fighting operation https://t.co/DywLeyBmUR pic.twitter.com/BybvnkMLFq

— New York Post (@nypost) September 11, 2026

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ESPN shared further:

Johnson, 55, surrendered 190 dogs to the government after his conviction. The DOJ said in a news release that it’s the largest number of dogs seized from one individual in a federal dogfighting case.

Johnson bred and trafficked pit bulls operating as “Mal Kant Kennels” in Oklahoma since at least 2007 and bred “champion and grand champion” pit bulls to create offspring with fighting traits. A champion fighting dog typically is a dog that won three fights and a grand champion is a dog that won five fights.

Prosecutors said in a 2025 news release announcing the indictment that Johnson “marketed and sold stud rights and offspring from winning fighting dogs to other dog fighters looking to incorporate the Mal Kant Kennels ‘bloodline’ into their own dog fighting operations.”

In 2004, Johnson pleaded guilty in state court on dogfighting charges and received a five-year deferred sentence, according to Oklahoma court records.

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“LeShon Johnson will face justice for building another particularly egregious and violent dog fighting scheme,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr.

“As Johnson was well aware, dog fighting is a felony in all 50 states. To anyone attempting to build violent and illicit business schemes: you can run, but you can’t hide from the Department of Justice,” he continued.

“LeShon Johnson continued to traffic dogs for illegal fighting despite a 2004 state conviction for similar conduct,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD).

“We are grateful to our colleagues at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma and the FBI for partnering with ENRD to bring this repeat offender to justice and to the U.S. Marshals Service for executing the biggest rescue operation of its kind,” Gustafson added.

SICKENING

Former NFL player LeShon Johnson was sentenced today to 5 years in prison after being convicted at trial of six dog fighting-related charges.

After being found guilty, Johnson surrendered to the government the 190 dogs seized in this case.

Johnson would sell… pic.twitter.com/wqElNJpKqX

— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) September 10, 2026

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More from the New York Post:

Billy Coyle IV, Johnson’s attorney, told ESPN that a final decision has not been made to appeal the sentencing, but he has recommended to Johnson that he file an appeal.

Johnson played for three teams during his five years in the NFL.

He spent time with the Packers, Cardinals and his final season in the league with the Giants. He finished his pro football career in the XFL.

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