Former NFL RB LeShon Johnson is facing years behind bars for allegedly running a massive dog fighting operation ... marking the biggest bust of its kind in U.S. history.
The Department of Justice announced a 21-count indictment against Johnson -- who played six seasons in the NFL -- accusing the 54-year-old of possessing 190 "pit bull-type dogs" for "use in an animal fighting venture."
The DOJ says the animals, from Johnson's "Mal Kant Kennels" in Oklahoma, were seized in October 2024 -- in what the Feds say was the largest dog fighting bust in history.
Johnson, in part, is accused of strategically breeding "champion" pits -- animals that won several fights against other dogs, to produce offspring that could also fight.
Chrissy Teigen and John Legend are welcoming a new member to their family ... sharing a video of the rescue dog they adopted just months after one of their other pups passed away.
The Hollywood super couple announced the adoption on Sunday -- National Puppy Day ... explaining they adopted Dudley from Wags & Walks ... a nonprofit "dedicated to saving dogs from high-kill shelters and placing them in loving homes."
Legend and Teigen shared a clip featuring Dudley who came into a Wags & Walks shelter shortly after the L.A. wildfires in January.
Sean Lowe found himself in a tough spot -- literally -- pinning down his dog after it bit him for the third time, just to keep it under control while cops worked to free him from danger.
In the tense body cam footage obtained by TMZ, the "Bachelor" alum was on the ground for a few minutes holding down his snarling rescue dog, Moose -- telling cops that if he let go, the animal would lunge at him again.
It’s a nail-biting standoff -- Moose thrashes in resistance for a while before the scrambling officers finally get control ... after dodging a few close calls themselves, tasing the animal as Sean manages to escape the chaos.
Shohei Ohtanimade his long-awaited return to the baseball diamond in Japan ... and he rocked some special cleats for the occasion -- which prominently featured his beloved pup, Decoy!!
Ohtani gave fans a close look at the footwear following his Los Angeles Dodgers' 4-1 win over the Chicago Cubs ... showing off the popular pooch stitched into the heel of his shoe and painted on the bottom.
He also displayed some tasty treats his wife, Mamiko,got from Ete ... which is an exclusive restaurant in Japan that says they only serve one group per day!
Sean Lowe went through a traumatic experience -- revealing he was attacked three times by his rescue dog Moose only three months after getting him ... leaving him squirting blood everywhere.
He broke it all down in an IG video with his wife Catherine -- explaining while he was barbecuing with friends Thursday, he ran inside to turn off a fire alarm triggered by smoke … and that’s when the nightmare began.
Sean explained when he grabbed a towel to wave the smoke away from the alarm, Moose suddenly nipped his finger aggressively, then started sinking his teeth into his shoes ... before ripping into his arm.
The dog found dead alongside Gene Hackman and his wife likely died from a lack of food and water ... according to an animal control agency in New Mexico.
Gene and Betsy Arakawa's kelpie mix, Zinna, likely died from dehydration and starvation ... according to a necropsy obtained by The Associated Press.
The report says the Santa Fe County animal control agency noted the dog's stomach was empty aside from small amounts of bile and hair.
Donny Osmond is recreating himself with artificial intelligence ... performing with an A.I. version of his 14-year-old self.
We got Donny in New York City and he told us about his new residency at Harrah's Las Vegas, where he performs his timeless classic "Puppy Love" with his A.I. clone.
Donny first sang the song when he was 14 -- and with some fancy new tech he's able to perform a duet with his past self, which he tells us is like looking in a mirror.
Winnie Harlow showed us exactly why she’s one of the industry’s most iconic models -- turning heads while out in Miami with her adorable pup in tow.
The model nailed the off-duty chic look, rocking an all-black ensemble that flaunted her slender frame -- topped off with some gold bling -- as she hit the streets of Miami.
Even in her low-key look, Winnie commanded attention -- someone might need to remind her she’s not on the catwalk 24/7!
Of course, Winnie loves having all eyes on her -- and she’s even been serving up some serious fire on IG lately, and lucky for you, we’ve got a lil’ gallery above for your viewing pleasure.
Gene Hackman died a full week after his wife Betsy Arakawa died and lived in the house as her body lay in the bathroom ... this according to New Mexico officials.
New Mexico officials concluded Betsy likely died February 11, and the cause of death was Hantavirus ... a serious and rare disease which can be fatal.
Gene died February 18. An autopsy revealed the 95-year-old had a history of cardiovascular disease, along with advanced Alzheimer's. He had a history of heart attacks and high blood pressure. Although the medical investigators did not use the words "heart attack," it seemed they were going in that direction, although the medical investigator said she could not squarely say that was the cause. They did say heart disease was the cause of death, and Alzheimer's was a significant contributing factor.
The Sheriff says it appears Betsy's body was in the house for a week while Gene lived in the same house until his death a week later. Investigators made it clear ... Gene was in poor health and the Alzheimer's may have created confusion, which could explain why he never called authorities.
Katherine Heigl says her efforts to save animals from death row are being sabotaged by a rogue rescue group that's spreading a whole lot of dog s*** about her foundation ... TMZ has learned.
Katherine and her mom, Nancy, run the Jason Heigl Foundation -- named after Katherine's late brother -- which supports animal rescue efforts, particularly saving animals from kill shelters. Awesome work, for sure.
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Now, according to a new lawsuit, the Heigls' org signed a deal to support The Pitty Committee, which is a Santa Monica-based dog rescue. The deal was Katherine's foundation would give TPC $5,000 per month to rescue a minimum number of pups of Katherine and Nancy's choosing.
A$AP Rocky had to use a lil muscle in his latest photo shoot ... thanks to his furry model companions who gave him a workout!!!
The Harlem rap star was recently in his old neighborhood for a Vogue photo shoot, with a pair of excited Dalmatians ready to burst off their leashes!!!
Rocky channeled his inner Cruella de Vil with a long, spotted trench coat and flashed a smile -- but clearly struggled to keep Pongo and Perdita sitting still with just one arm.
Gene Hackman's two dogs that were found alive when authorities searched his home are safe and in the care of local officials.
According to a sheriff's press release, Santa Fe County Animal Control is reportedly working with Hackman’s family to “ensure the safety of the two dogs.”
Gene and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, had three dogs -- one of which was found dead by deputies inside a bathroom closet. The German Shepherd was lying 10-15 feet away from Arakawa, who was also found deceased on the bathroom floor -- with prescription pills scattered nearby.
Legendary actor and two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman has been found dead inside his Santa Fe, New Mexico home alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and their dog, TMZ has confirmed.
The bodies of Hackman and Arakawa were discovered Wednesday afternoon, with Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirming the news just after midnight on Thursday.
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The sheriff's office reportedly told NBC affiliate KOB of Albuquerque a welfare check was conducted at his home after a concerned neighbor called the police.
Gene Hackman's death and the deaths of his wife and dog are puzzling authorities, who have labeled his passing "suspicious."
According to a search warrant, obtained by TMZ, a Santa Fe detective who sought a search warrant wrote in his affidavit, he believes "the death of the two deceased individuals to be suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation because the reporting party found the front door of the residence unsecured and opened."
The detective continues, "Deputies observed a healthy dog running loose on the property, another healthy dog near the deceased female, a deceased dog laying 10-15 feet from the deceased female in a closet of the bathroom, the heater being moved, the pill bottle being opened and pills scattered next to the female, the male decedent being located in a separate room of the residence, and no obvious signs of a gas leak."
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is mourning the loss of his beloved French Bulldog, Hobbs.
The heartbroken "Fast X" star announced on Instagram late Monday night his pup passed over the Rainbow Bridge ... vulnerably writing he feels "numb over this loss."
He added, "We're so grateful for every ounce of pure love he gave our entire family and we’re so grateful he didn’t suffer long as he quietly and bravely left in the night."
Hurricane -- the Secret Service dog that took down an intruder outside the White House in 2014 -- may be gone ... but, the Service honored his heroism one more time before he passed.
Marshall Mirarchi -- Hurricane's handler and close pal -- stopped by "TMZ Live" to talk about the heroic Belgian Malinois ... and, he got teary-eyed early remembering the dog he had for most of his adult life.
Marshall then lays out Hurricane's last day ... saying he took him back to Washington, D.C. so he could see his old workspace -- the White House -- one more time.