FBI Issues Statement After Former NFL Player Convicted In Dogfighting Case

FBI Issues Statement After Former NFL Player Convicted In Dogfighting Case originally appeared on Athlon Sports.Former running back LeShon Eugene Johnson, who played for the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants, was recently arrested due to dogfighting.

Johnson, 54, is from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was convicted on six felony counts after a multi-day trial.FBI Issues Statement on Dogfighting InvestigationNow, Director Kash Patel of the Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a statement on the dogfighting case.

"The FBI will not stand for those who perpetuate the despicable crime of dogfighting.

Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners, those who continue to engage in organized animal fighting and cruelty will face justice.

U.S.

Attorney Christopher J.

Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma also released a statement.

Dog fighting is a vicious and cruel crime that has no place in a civilized society.

I commend the hard work of our law enforcement partners in investigating this case and holding the defendant accountable for his crimes.Former NFL Player Convicted of Operating Large-Scale Dog Fighting and Trafficking Venture in Oklahoma https://t.co/Oso9ddBKmepic.twitter.com/UzDundMrEp FBI (@FBI) August 5, 2025Attorney General Pamela Bondi added that 190 dogs are now safe thanks to the outstanding collaborative work by our attorneys and law enforcement components.

The FBI stated that it is the "largest number ever seized from a single individual in a federal dog fighting case."New York Giants running back LeShon Johnson (23) carries the ball against New Orleans Saints safety Sammy Knight (29) and defensive end Willie Whitehead (98) at Giants Stadium.

Credit Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY NETWORKJohnson was selected by the Packers in the third round of the 1994 NFL Draft.

He then spent time with the Cardinals before finishing his NFL career with the Giants.

This is not Johnsons first encounter with the law over dogfighting.

Johnson also had a state conviction from 2004 due to dogfighting.

What Charges Will Johnson Face? Johnson was found to have violated the federal Animal Welfare Act, which prohibits the possession, sale, transport, or delivery of animals for use in fighting ventures.As a result, he now faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison along with a $250,000 fine on each count.

For context, Mike Vick, the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback, had previously been sentenced to 23 months due to a "cruel and inhumane" dogfighting ring back in 2007.

Johnson's attorney, Bill Coyle, insisted Johnson was nothing but a dog breeder, per ESPN.

"He was simply a breeder of the American pit bull terrier," Coyle said.

"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."However, prosecutors allege that Johnson helped to grow the dogfighting industry and profited financially from the activities that took place across the United States.Related: Quinn Ewers Hit With Disappointing News as First Miami Dolphins Depth Chart is RevealedThis story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 5, 2025, where it first appeared..

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