{"id":2471178,"date":"2025-08-05T16:20:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T20:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-nfl-running-back-convicted-on-6-felony-charges-faces-up-to-30-years-in-prison\/"},"modified":"2025-08-05T16:22:16","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T20:22:16","slug":"former-nfl-running-back-convicted-on-6-felony-charges-faces-up-to-30-years-in-prison","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-nfl-running-back-convicted-on-6-felony-charges-faces-up-to-30-years-in-prison\/","title":{"rendered":"Former NFL Running Back Convicted on 6 Felony Charges, Faces Up to 30 Years in Prison"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fformer-nfl-running-back-convicted-on-6-felony-charges-faces-up-to-30-years-in-prison%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2471178&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>LeShon Eugene Johnson, a former NFL running back from Oklahoma, has been convicted on six <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jussie-smollett-hate-crime-hoax-goes-to-trial-years-after-soros-backed-d-a-kim-foxx-dropped-charges\/\" title=\"Jussie Smollett Hate Crime Hoax Goes to Trial Years After Soros-Backed D.A. Kim Foxx Dropped Charges\">felony counts related<\/a> to operating a large-scale dogfighting and trafficking operation. He violated teh federal Animal Welfare act by possessing, selling, transporting, and delivering dogs for fighting purposes. Johnson was forced to surrender 190 dogs-the largest number ever seized from an individual in a federal dogfighting case. Authorities will care for the dogs as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-pleads-not-guilty-to-new-charges-in-classified-documents-case\/\" title=\"Trump denies new charges in classified documents case.\">legal proceedings continue<\/a>. Johnson profited by breeding and selling fighting dogs, including stud rights and offspring from winning dogs, further contributing to the dogfighting industry.This conviction comes with potential penalties of up to five years in prison and fines of $250,000 per count. Law enforcement officials, including the FBI and Department of Justice, emphasized their commitment to prosecuting animal cruelty and delivering justice to those involved in such illegal activities.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>An Oklahoma man who once played in the National Football League has been convicted of <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >multiple counts related<\/a> to animal abuse.<\/p>\n<p>LeShon Eugene Johnson, 54, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was convicted of six felony counts of violating the federal Animal Welfare Act&rsquo;s prohibitions against possessing, selling, transporting, and delivering animals to be used in fighting ventures, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/former-nfl-player-convicted-operating-large-scale-dog-fighting-and-trafficking-venture\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Department of Justice news release<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Each count carries a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.<\/p>\n<p>Johnson was forced to surrender 190 dogs seized in the case. The United States Marshals Service will care for the dogs pending forfeiture proceedings.<\/p>\n<p>Johnson was a running back for the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, and New York Giants, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.koco.com\/article\/oklahoma-dog-fighting-conviction-ex-nfl-playerleshon-eugene-johnson\/65602771\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">KOCO-TV<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadScript(src) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=src; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.async=true; \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.body.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadScript(\"https:\/\/embed.sendtonews.com\/player3\/embedcode.js?fk=s28Az7AY\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #stnvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#stnvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The FBI will not stand for those who perpetuate the despicable crime of dogfighting,&rdquo; said FBI Director Kash Patel said, according to the DOJ release.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners, those who continue to engage in organized animal fighting and cruelty will face justice,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Ex-NFL RB LeShon Johnson Convicted on Dog Fighting Charges, Surrenders 190 Pit Bulls <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/rL8gC1qoPK\">https:\/\/t.co\/rL8gC1qoPK<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/vF6Hgb5gQO\">pic.twitter.com\/vF6Hgb5gQO<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; TMZ (@TMZ) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TMZ\/status\/1952489707931054099?\">August 4, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The surrender of 190 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/sweet-blind-old-dog-rescued-dog-fighting-just-looking-home-spend-final-days\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dogs<\/a> was the largest number ever seized from an individual in a federal dogfighting case, the release said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This criminal profited off of the misery of innocent animals and he will <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/morning-wire-u-s-veterans-take-afghanistan-evacuation-into-their-own-hands-texas-house-passes-election-integrity-law-mississippi-threatens-new-covid-restrictions\/\" title=\"Morning Wire: U.S. Veterans Take Afghanistan Evacuation Into Their Own Hands, Texas House Passes Election Integrity Law, Mississippi Threatens New COVID Restrictions\">face severe consequences<\/a> for his vile crimes,&rdquo;&nbsp;Attorney General Pamela Bondi said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This case underscores the Department of Justice&rsquo;s commitment to protecting animals from abuse &mdash; 190 dogs are now safe, thanks to outstanding collaborative work by our attorneys and law enforcement components,&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This conviction sends a strong message that those who abuse animals for entertainment and profit will face serious consequences under federal law,&rdquo; Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department&rsquo;s Environment and Natural Resources Division said.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma added that &ldquo;Dogfighting is a vicious and cruel crime that has no place in a civilized society.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>According to a previous Justice Department <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/oklahoma-man-charged-operating-large-scale-dog-fighting-and-trafficking-venture\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news release<\/a>, Johnson ran a dogfighting operation to breed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/abused-dog-found-starving-battling-infection-now-fighting-life-icu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fighting dogs<\/a>, from those that had previously won fights.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Johnson marketed and sold stud rights and offspring from winning fighting dogs to other dog fighters,&rdquo; the release said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;His trafficking of fighting dogs to other dogfighters across the country contributed to the growth of the dogfighting industry and allowed Johnson to profit financially,&rdquo; the release said.<\/p>\n<p>Johnson had a 2004 conviction on state-level <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/dog-likely-bred-fighting-now-helps-train-rescued-puppies-rehabbed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">animal fighting<\/a> charges in Oklahoma, to which he pled guilty, according to the DOJ.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An Oklahoma man and former NFL player has been found guilty on several animal abuse charges. LeShon Eugene Johnson, 54, from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was convicted on six felony counts for violating the federal Animal Welfare Act by possessing, selling, transporting, and delivering animals intended for fighting. Each charge carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Johnson was required to give up 190 dogs seized during the investigation. The U.S. Marshals Service will care for the dogs while forfeiture proceedings are underway. Johnson previously played as a running back for the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, and New York Giants<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2471179,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Leshon-Johnson.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[34412,60694,32779,7215,32433],"class_list":["post-2471178","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-felony-charges","tag-former-athlete","tag-legal-issues","tag-nfl","tag-prison-sentence"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Leshon-Johnson.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2471178","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2471178"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2471178\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2471182,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2471178\/revisions\/2471182"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2471179"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2471178"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2471178"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2471178"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}