Ex-NFL Player Charged in Major Dog Fighting Sting

BROKEN ARROW, OK — A former NFL player in Oklahoma is facing serious charges for allegedly running a huge dog fighting and trafficking operation. Nearly 190 pitbull-type dogs were seized in a federal sting, making it one of the largest dog fighting busts in the country.

According to the U.S. Office of Public Affairs, LeShon Eugene Johnson, 51, from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, has been charged with multiple violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act. 

The charges were revealed in an indictment filed in a U.S. District Court in Oklahoma’s Eastern District on Tuesday. Johnson, who played running back for the Green Bay Packers in 1994 and 1995, is accused of possessing, selling, and transporting dogs for use in animal fighting.

“The FBI will not tolerate criminals that harm innocent animals for their twisted form of entertainment,” said FBI Director Kash Patel.

In a statement, Acting U.S. Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) made it clear that dog fighting is a serious crime. “Dog fighting is illegal, and courts have upheld its prosecution time again,” he said.

Authorities say Johnson’s operation was one of the biggest ever discovered in a dog fighting case. In October, nearly 200 pit bulls were seized from his property in Broken Arrow, a suburb of Tulsa. This was the largest number of dogs ever taken from one person in the U.S. in a dog fighting case.

Federal law bans dog fighting, while also being illegal to train, sell, or transport dogs for these purposes. Johnson is accused of trafficking dogs across state lines, which is believed to have helped the illegal dog fighting industry grow, with Johnson reportedly making money from these activities.

Before these charges, Johnson had a promising football career. He was a standout player in college and finished sixth in the 1993 Heisman Trophy voting. He briefly played for the New York Giants before his career ended in the XFL with the Chicago Enforcers. Johnson was also diagnosed with lymphoma in 1998 but returned to football in 1999 after treatment.

This isn’t the first time Johnson has been involved in dog fighting. In 2004, he pleaded guilty to similar charges related to operating a dog breeding business called "Krazyside Kennels." The FBI is currently investigating the case.

If convicted, Johnson could face up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each charge.