Former NFL running back LeShon Johnson, 55, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for his involvement in an "egregious and violent" dogfighting scheme. A federal judge also ordered Johnson to serve three years of supervised release and pay a $30,000 fine.
Johnson was previously found guilty of six felonies, including 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 delivery of a dog for use in an animal fighting venture. Prosecutors accused Johnson of breeding and trafficking pit bulls in Oklahoma through his "Mal Kant Kennels" since at least 2007, specifically selecting dogs for their fighting traits. He also marketed and sold stud rights and offspring from winning dogs to other dogfighters.
In 2025, Johnson surrendered 190 dogs to federal authorities, a seizure described by the Department of Justice as the largest canine seizure to result from an individual federal dogfighting case. Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. stated that Johnson would face justice for building a violent and illicit business scheme.
This is not Johnson's first encounter with dogfighting charges. He pleaded guilty to state dogfighting charges in 2004 and received a five-year deferred sentence.
Johnson's attorney, Billy Coyle IV, told ESPN that his client suffers from dementia and Parkinson's disease, conditions attributed to multiple concussions and traumatic brain injuries sustained during his football career. The attorney requested probation for Johnson, noting his need for a daily caretaker for the past two years.
Johnson gained prominence at Northern Illinois University, leading Division I in rushing with 1,975 yards and 12 touchdowns in 1993, finishing sixth in Heisman Trophy voting. He was a third-round draft pick by the Green Bay Packers and later played for the Arizona Cardinals, where his best season was in 1996, with 634 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Johnson's sentencing brings to mind other NFL figures involved in dogfighting, most notably Michael Vick. The former first-overall pick was arrested in 2007 for organizing an extensive dogfighting ring and served 21 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to related charges. Vick returned to the NFL in 2009.