A man from Buna, Texas, has been found guilty of federal firearms and drug trafficking offenses in the Eastern District of Texas. Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. announced the conviction.
Leotis Cornelius McMahon, 48, was convicted on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The verdict came after a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on February 5, 2025.
Court records revealed that law enforcement began investigating McMahon in 2023 for distributing narcotics in Southeast Texas. Following extensive surveillance, authorities conducted a traffic stop on McMahon, discovering large quantities of marijuana, cocaine, and nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine. Subsequently, a search warrant was executed at his residence in Buna where materials for drug distribution and four firearms were found—one being an AR-style pistol and another reported as stolen.
McMahon was reportedly operating what officials described as a mobile illegal drug shop. The volume of drugs and tools seized suggested he was engaged in significant drug dealing activities for profit.
Further investigations showed that McMahon is a convicted felon prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
A federal grand jury indicted McMahon on July 10, 2024. He now faces up to life imprisonment at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence is provided for informational purposes; however, the court will determine the sentence based on advisory guidelines and other factors after completing a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case falls under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program—a collaborative effort among federal, state, and local agencies aimed at reducing violent crime through evidence-based strategies focusing on violent offenders while supporting prevention and reentry programs.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Texas Department of Public Safety – Criminal Investigations; Lumberton Police Department; Jasper County Sheriff’s Office; Beaumont Police Department; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Lee and John B. Ross are prosecuting the case.