By John Dobberstein, Editor
A former NFL player living in Broken Arrow is facing federal charges for allegedly operating a large-scale dogfighting venture in Broken Arrow and Haskell, according to a Department of Justice grand jury indictment unsealed Tuesday.
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma has charged Leshon Eugene Johnson, a Haskell native, with violations of the dog fighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act.
Johnson, who made his initial court appearance last week, is charged with possessing 190 pit bull-type dogs for use in an animal fighting venture and for selling, transporting, and delivering a dog for use in an animal fighting venture.
Last fall, authorities seized 190 dogs from Johnson in what is believed to be the largest number of dogs ever seized from a single person in a federal dogfighting case.
The indictment draws parallels to the 2007 arrest and conviction of NFL quarterback Michael Vick for his involvement in “Bad Newz Kennels,” a dogfighting operation that brought national attention to animal abuse.
“Animal abuse is cruel, depraved, and deserves severe punishment,” said U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi in a statement. “The Department of Justice will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law and will remain committed to protecting innocent animals from those who would do them harm.”
“The FBI will not tolerate criminals that harm innocent animals for their twisted form of entertainment,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The FBI views animal cruelty investigations as a precursor to larger, organized crime efforts, similar to trafficking and homicides. This is yet another push in the FBI’s crackdown of violent offenders harming our most innocent.”
“Dog fighting is a cruel, blood-thirsty venture, not a legitimate business or sporting activity,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
According to court documents, Johnson ran a dog fighting operation known as “Mal Kant Kennels” in both Broken Arrow and Haskell. He previously ran “Krazyside Kennels” also out of Oklahoma, which led to his guilty plea on state animal fighting charges in 2004.
Based on available court records, it doesn’t appear Johnson ever served jail time for the 2005 charges that included engaging in a continuing criminal racketeering enterprise, conspiracy to commit a felony; owning, possessing or keeping or training a dog for fighting, instigating or encouraging a dogfight, servicing or facilitating a dogfight, and cruelty to animals.
Johnson was sentenced in Hughes County to a 5-year deferred sentence that included $3,216 in assessments and costs and restitution of $5,245.
The feds allege Johnson selectively bred “champion” and “grand champion” fighting dogs — dogs that have respectively won three or five fights — to produce offspring with fighting traits and abilities desired by him and others for use in dog fights.
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, prosecutors said. His trafficking of fighting dogs to other dog fighters across the country contributed to the growth of the dogfighting industry and allowed Johnson to profit financially.
Federal law prohibits fighting dogs in a venture that effects interstate commerce, asw ell as possessing, training, transporting, delivering, selling, purchasing or receiving dogs for fighting purposes. If convicted, Johnson faces a maximum penalty on each count of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The FBI’s Shreveport Resident Agency office is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Sarah Brown and Senior Trial Attorney Ethan Eddy of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
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