An unsealed grand jury indictment from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma revealed that Johnson violated the federal Animal Welfare Act.

Johnson allegedly marketed and sold stud rights and offspring from winning dogs, contributing to the growth of the dog fighting industry.

FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized that animal cruelty investigations are linked to larger organized crime activities, similar to trafficking and homicides.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated that animal abuse is cruel and deserves severe punishment, emphasizing the DOJ's commitment to prosecuting such cases vigorously.

The dogs were confiscated in October 2024 from Johnson's operation, known as 'Mal Kant Kennels,' located in Broken Arrow and Haskell, Oklahoma.

Former NFL running back LeShon Eugene Johnson has been indicted on 21 charges related to a significant federal dog fighting bust, which resulted in the seizure of 190 pit bulls, marking the largest seizure of fighting dogs from a single individual in U.S. history.

U.S. Attorney Christopher Wilson denounced dog fighting as a cruel act and praised the investigative efforts of the FBI and the Justice Department in shutting down such breeding operations.

Evidence recovered from Johnson's phone included text messages, a Facebook page, CashApp history, emails about sales, and dog pedigrees, highlighting the extensive nature of his operation.

LeShon Johnson, now 54 years old, was drafted in the third round by the Green Bay Packers in 1994 and also played for the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants during his NFL career.

Johnson, who has a prior conviction for state animal fighting charges in 2004, faces a total of 21 counts, with a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count if convicted.

He made his initial court appearance last week, with his next court date set for mid-April and the trial scheduled to begin on May 5, 2025.

The dogs raised by Johnson included those branded as 'champion' and 'grand champion', with some having names like War Pony and Hogg, the latter reportedly winning eight fights, which is considered unusually high for fighting dogs.