A federal jury has convicted 48-year-old Leotis Cornelius McMahon of firearms and drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. announced.
Following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone, McMahon was found guilty on February 5, 2025, of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
According to court records, McMahon was under investigation in 2023 for narcotics distribution in Southeast Texas. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on McMahon, during which he was found transporting large amounts of marijuana, cocaine, and nearly a kilogram of "actual" methamphetamine. A subsequent search of his residence in Buna, executed under a warrant, uncovered additional materials used for drug distribution and four firearms, including an AR-style pistol. One of the seized firearms had been reported stolen.
Investigators described McMahon as operating a mobile drug distribution operation, with significant quantities of controlled substances and trafficking tools such as scales and packaging materials seized as evidence. Further inquiries revealed McMahon is a convicted felon, making him legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
McMahon was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 10, 2024, and now faces up to life in federal prison at sentencing. His final sentence will be determined by the court based on federal sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled following a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
The case was prosecuted under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, a joint effort by federal, state, and local agencies aimed at reducing violent crime. The investigation was conducted by 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. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Lee and John B. Ross.
