OKLAHOMA CITY — A former NFL participant from Oklahoma has been convicted for his function in a large-scale dogfighting operation, federal prosecutors introduced.
LeShon Eugene Johnson, 54, of Damaged Arrow was convicted of six felony counts of possessing canines to be used in an animal-fighting enterprise. He was acquitted of 17 different comparable counts. He faces as much as 5 years in jail and a wonderful of as much as $250,000 on every rely when he’s formally sentenced at a later date.
“The FBI will not stand for those who perpetuate the despicable crime of dogfighting,” FBI Director Kash Patel stated in an announcement. “Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners, those who continue to engage in organized animal fighting and cruelty will face justice.”
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Johnson was a operating again for the Inexperienced Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants from 1994 to 1999.
Prosecutors alleged that Johnson operated Mal Kant Kennels in Damaged Arrow and Haskell and selectively bred pit-bull-type canines often known as champions or grand champions due to profitable canine fights. Earlier this 12 months, the federal government seized 190 canines from Johnson which were within the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Johnson allegedly bred canines that had received as many as 5 fights after which bought “stud rights” and their offspring to different dogfighters, based on the Justice Division. The trafficking happened throughout the U.S. and helped to develop the dogfighting business, whereas leading to Johnson profiting financially, prosecutors alleged.
Johnson’s legal professional, Billy Coyle, stated his consumer was a canine breeder who was by no means accused of combating canines and famous that the jury acquitted Johnson on a lot of the counts in opposition to him.
“He was simply a breeder of the American pit bull terrier,” Coyle stated. “Obviously the jury found that some of his dogs bred were probably or were used in dog fighting, and those were difficult charges to fight.”
Coyle stated federal brokers additionally used heavy-handed techniques, with greater than 40 officers raiding his dwelling late at evening, pointing weapons at Johnson and his spouse and seizing his canines and property.
Johnson beforehand pleaded responsible to state animal combating expenses in 2004 in Oklahoma. He was given a five-year deferred sentence, based on court docket paperwork.
