Last October, federal law enforcement rescued 190 dogs from the Oklahoma residence of Johnson, leading to what is thought to be the largest dog fighting case from a single person in U.S. history.
First arrested on March 20, the NIU alumnus was charged for violating the dog fighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act after making his first court appearance last week.
Johnson, now released on bail, was 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,” according to a press release distributed by The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday.
Johnson was charged on 21 counts, each carrying a maximum penalty of a five-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine. After previously pleading guilty to related charges in 2004, this is the second time Johnson has been charged due to dog fighting.
“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.”
Johnson conducted the dog fighting operation – “Mal Kant Kennels” – out of Haskell and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, in which Johnson deliberately bred pit bulls for fighting.
“Johnson selectively bred ‘champion’ and ‘grand champion’ fighting dogs – dogs that have respectively won three or five fights – to produce offspring with fighting traits and abilities desired by him and others for use in dog fights,” the press release reads.
Moreover, Johnson benefited financially, selling and promoting the dogs to other dog fighters.
“Johnson marketed and sold stud rights and offspring from winning fighting dogs to other dog fighters looking to incorporate the Mal Kant Kennels ‘bloodline’ into their own dog fighting operations,” the D.O.J. press release reads.
Johnson, 54, graduated from NIU in 1993 and was a standout member of the Huskies’ football team.
Inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame Class in 2003, Johnson broke NIU’s record for most rushing yards in a season with 1,976 in 1993.
Johnson then made his way to the NFL after getting drafted to the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 1994 NFL Draft.
Completing four seasons in the NFL, Johnson was a member of the Packers and the Arizona Cardinals before his career was interrupted by lymphoma. After recovering from the sickness, Johnson spent time with the New York Giants before his football career was wrapped up with a short-lived stint in the XFL.
