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Former NFL moving backmost LeShon Eugene Johnson has been indicted connected 21 charges successful a monolithic national canine warring bust that led to the betterment of 190 pit bulls, according to the Justice Department.
Federal authorities said they judge it's their largest seizure of warring dogs from a azygous idiosyncratic successful U.S. history.
Johnson, a 54-year-old from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, is accused of operating a large-scale breeding and trafficking cognition known arsenic "Mal Kant Kennels" arsenic good arsenic raising warring dogs himself.
He pleaded blameworthy to akin charges astatine the authorities level successful 2004.
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Running backmost LeShon Johnson of the Arizona Cardinals moves the shot during a crippled against the New York Jets astatine Sun Devil Stadium successful Tempe, Arizona. (Stephen Dunn /Allsport )
"This strategical prosecution of an alleged repetition offender led to the seizure of 190 dogs destined for a cruel end," said acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson. "It disrupts a large root of dogs utilized successful different canine warring ventures."
Johnson allegedly raised "champion" and "grand champion" warring pit bulls and past sold breeding rights astir the country.
Some of the dogs' names were War Pony, Boot Stomper and Hogg, the second of which was purported to person won 8 fights.
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Portrait of Northern Illinois moving backmost LeShon Johnson during a photograph sprout astatine a ranch successful Tulsa, Oklahoma, connected July 16, 1993. (Ken Geiger /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
Prosecutors said that is an unusually precocious fig of victories, due to the fact that dogs often endure mortal injuries during brutal fights.
To go a "grand champion," a canine needs to triumph five. A "champion" wins three.
"Animal maltreatment is cruel, depraved, and deserves terrible punishment," Attorney General Pam Bondi said successful a statement. "The Department of Justice volition prosecute this lawsuit to the fullest grade of the instrumentality and volition stay committed to protecting guiltless animals from those who would bash them harm."
New York Giants moving backmost LeShon Johnson flips implicit aft a summation arsenic he's covered by Indianapolis Colts linebacker Mike Peterson (L) and information Jason Belser during a crippled astatine Giants Stadium successful East Rutherford, New Jersey. (REUTERS)
According to tribunal filings, a trove of grounds was recovered from Johnson's phone, including substance messages, a Facebook page, CashApp history, emails discussing income and adjacent pedigrees for the dogs. Authorities besides seized dogs astatine 2 abstracted properties owned by Johnson.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau views carnal cruelty cases arsenic a stepping chromatic to organized crime, including trafficking and murder.
"The FBI volition not tolerate criminals that harm guiltless animals for their twisted signifier of entertainment," helium said successful a statement.
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Johnson was indicted successful January, tribunal records show, but the tribunal unsealed the filing this week aft his apprehension connected Thursday successful Muskogee. The dogs were seized from his spot successful October 2024 nether the Animal Welfare Act, according to national prosecutors, who said they judge the 190 animals people the largest seizure from a azygous idiosyncratic successful specified a case.
Johnson, who played for the Packers, Cardinals and Giants during a six-year NFL vocation successful the 1990s, was portion of a 2014 people enactment suit accusing the NFL of failing to support players from concussions.
He faces up to 5 years successful situation connected each number if convicted and a $250,000 fine. Fox News Digital reached retired to his attorney.
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