FORMER NFL PLAYER LESHAN JOHNSON SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS FOR DOG FIGHTING

LeShon Johnson, a former NFL running back, has been sentenced to 60 months in federal prison after conviction on six felonies related to dog fighting. Authorities seized 190 dogs from Johnson's property, described by the Department of Justice as the largest number of dogs recovered from any individual in a federal dog fighting investigation. Johnson was previously convicted of state dog fighting charges in Oklahoma in 2004. According to the Department of Justice, Johnson made hundreds of thousands of pounds through the operation by selling dogs he marketed as fighting champions, selling puppies bred for fighting, and charging stud fees to other dog fighters.

Johnson was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of 1994. He also played for the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants during his professional career. He finished his American football career with the Chicago Enforcers of the XFL. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson stated that Johnson "continued to traffic dogs for illegal fighting despite a 2004 state conviction for similar conduct."

The case involved collaboration between the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the FBI, the Department of Justice's Environment and Natural Resources Division, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Officials described the operation as the largest rescue effort of its kind in federal dog fighting investigations.