Former Arizona Cardinals running back LeShon Johnson has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for operating a large-scale dogfighting ring that caused death and "serious bodily injury" to hundreds of pit bulls in Oklahoma, per a release from a Department of Justice on Thursday, Sept. 10.
Johnson played for the Cardinals from the time he was signed to them during the 1995 season through the 1997 season.
According to Michael Rothstein of ESPN, Johnson was convicted of three felony counts for possessing a dog to use in an animal-fighting venture, two felony counts for selling a dog for use in an animal-fighting venture and one felony count of sale, transport and delivery of a dog for use in an animal-fighting venture.
Johnson also played
for the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants in his career. In his first full season with the Cardinals, he averaged 4.5 yards per carry for 634 rushing yards in 15 games (eight starts). He was released by the team following a campaign the next season in which he recorded 81 rushing yards on a 3.5 yards-per-carry clip.
Beyond being sentenced to prison, Johnson will have to pay a $30,000 fine and will have three years of supervised release. After Johnson was convicted, he surrendered 190 dogs to the government. TheDepartment of Justice said that the 190 dogs are the highest number of dogs surrendered by one person in a federal dogfighting case.
Johnson's attorney Billy Coyle IV told ESPN that he would suggest Johnson appeal the sentencing, but that there has not been a final decision made.
Oklahoma court records show that Johnson previously pleaded guilty on dogfighting charges in state court. He received a five-year deferred sentence then.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ex-Arizona Cardinals running back sentenced to federal prison
