Broken Arrow, OK — An Oklahoma man has been found guilty by a federal jury on six felony charges connected to a massive dog fighting ring, which is thought to be one of the largest ever prosecuted in the United States.
Leshon E. Johnson, who ran “Mal Kant Kennels,” was convicted on three counts of possession and three counts of selling dogs for use in animal fighting operations. The jury delivered the verdict in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
Court documents and evidence presented during the trial revealed that Johnson kept and bred 190 pit bull-type dogs specifically for illegal dog fighting. Federal authorities seized the dogs during a raid in October 2024, which is noted as the largest single seizure of fighting dogs in a federal case to date.
Johnson, a repeat offender, had previously managed another illegal kennel—Krazyside Kennels—which resulted in a state-level conviction in 2004 for animal fighting charges. At Mal Kant Kennels, prosecutors allege that Johnson selectively bred dogs known for their success in brutal underground fights, branding them as “champion” or “grand champion” based on their fight records. He sold these dogs and their offspring to other dog fighters across the country, marketing his bloodline as top-tier within the illegal fighting scene. “Johnson’s trafficking and sale of fighting dogs fueled a national network of cruelty,” prosecutors stated. “He profited by spreading a legacy of violence.”
The trial team included:
- ECS Senior Litigation Counsel Todd Gleason
- ECS Trial Attorney Sarah Brown
- Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz
- ECS Paralegal Jillian Grubb
- ECS Law Clerk Amanda Backer
Johnson faces significant prison time and fines at sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled.
Dog fighting is a federal felony under the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. § 2156) and carries severe penalties, including up to five years in prison per count.
If you suspect animal fighting or abuse, you can report it to the FBI or your local authorities.
