An Oklahoma man has been charged after 190 dogs were seized from a dogfighting and trafficking venture in Broken Arrow.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Leshon Johnson, 54, made his initial appearance in court last week and has been charged with possessing 190 pit bull-type dogs for animal fighting, selling, transporting and delivering.
All the dogs were seized from Johnson’s custody in October 2024 under the Animal Welfare Act, according to a press release from the DOJ.
“Animal abuse is cruel, depraved, and deserves severe punishment,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi in the press release. “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 operation was known as Mal Kant Kennels in Broken Arrow and Haskell. According to the court documents, Johnson also previously ran “Krazyside Kennels” and pleaded guilty to dog fighting in 2005.
Since then, Johnson selectively bred “champion” and “grand champion” fighting dogs, classified after winning three or five fights, to produce offspring with like fighting traits and abilities, according to court documents.
The trafficking reached dog fighters across the country, the DOJ said in a press release, contributing to the growth of the dog fighting industry, and Johnson was able to make a financial profit.
Federal law states that it is illegal to fight dogs in organized ways that affect interstate commerce and to have dogs for possessing, training, transporting, delivering, selling, purchasing or receiving associated with fighting purposes.
“Dogfighting is perhaps the most sickening form of animal cruelty,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy in a press release. “The scale of cruelty in this case is jarring to the core, and I commend the FBI and the DOJ for their hard, life-saving work.”
If convicted, Johnson will face a maximum penalty of five years and a $250,000 fine for each count. The FBI’s Shreveport Resident Agency office is investigating the case.
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