What happened to Leshon Johnson, the former NFL player?

Leshon Johnson, a former NFL player, was convicted on six felony counts for operating a large-scale dog-fighting trafficking venture. He surrendered 190 dogs seized from his property, the largest number ever confiscated in a federal dog-fighting case.

How many dogs were seized from Leshon Johnson's property?

Authorities seized 190 dogs from Leshon Johnson's property, which is the largest number ever seized from a single individual in a federal dog fighting case.

What was Leshon Johnson's previous involvement in dog-fighting?

Leshon Johnson had a prior dog-fighting conviction from the state in 2004, for which he received a five-year deferred sentence. However, he continued his cruel and illegal activities, breeding and trafficking "champion" and "grand champion" fighting dogs.

Home / Crime and Justice / Ex-NFL Player Convicted in Massive Dog-Fighting Bust

Ex-NFL Player Convicted in Massive Dog-Fighting Bust

4 Aug

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Summary

Former NFL player Leshon Johnson convicted of dog-fighting crimes
Authorities seized 190 dogs from Johnson's property, largest federal case
Johnson had prior dog-fighting conviction from 2004

Ex-NFL Player Convicted in Massive Dog-Fighting Bust

As of August 5th, 2025, former NFL player Leshon Johnson has been convicted on six felony counts for his involvement in a large-scale dog-fighting trafficking operation. The U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Public Affairs announced the conviction, stating that Johnson surrendered 190 dogs seized from his property, the largest number ever confiscated in a federal dog-fighting case.

Johnson, who played five seasons in the NFL with three different teams, had a prior dog-fighting conviction from the state in 2004, for which he received a five-year deferred sentence. However, the former running back continued his cruel and illegal activities, breeding and trafficking "champion" and "grand champion" fighting dogs.

"This criminal profited off the misery of innocent animals and he will face severe consequences for his vile crimes," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. "This case underscores the Department of Justice's commitment to protecting animals from abuse." FBI Director Kash Patel echoed these sentiments, stating that the Bureau "will not stand for those who perpetuate the despicable crime of dogfighting."

Johnson now faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each felony count. "Dog fighting is a vicious and cruel crime that has no place in a civilized society," said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. "I commend the hard work of our law enforcement partners in investigating this case and holding the defendant accountable for his crimes."

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