Former NFL running back LeShon Johnson has been charged in a federal dogfighting case after 190 dogs were seized from him last year.
The Department of Justice announced in a news release this week that the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma unsealed the grand jury indictment charging Johnson with violating 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,” per the news release.
He faces 21 counts. If he is convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count.
“Animal abuse is cruel, depraved, and deserves severe punishment,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said 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 dogs were seized from Johnson last October. The DOJ said it is believed that the number of dogs is the largest ever seized from a single person in a federal case.
Johnson, 54, was arrested March 20 and was released on bail, according to multiple media outlets that cited court records.
He previously pleaded guilty to state animal fighting charges in 2004.
Johnson’s lawyer, Courtney R. Jordan, declined comment to the Associated Press on the case.
Johnson was a third-round selection by the Green Bay Packers in the 1994 draft and also played for the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants in his NFL career. He played in 62 games, rushing for 955 yards and scoring seven touchdowns.
