A Buna man, Leotis Cornelius McMahon, has been found guilty of multiple counts relating to firearms and drug trafficking. Aged 48, McMahon faced a three-day trial which concluded on Wednesday in the Eastern District of Texas. U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone presided over the proceedings that led to his conviction, according to details made public by Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.
The court heard how McMahon, as early as 2023, was the subject of a law enforcement operation targeting his narcotics distribution activities within Southeast Texas. After prolonged surveillance, a traffic stop unveiled substantial quantities of marijuana, cocaine, and close to a kilogram of methamphetamine. A subsequent search at his residence in Buna resulted in the discovery of materials linked to drug distribution and four firearms, one of which was an AR-style pistol, and another that was determined to be stolen, as reported by the Department of Justice.
It emerged during the trial that McMahon was already a convicted felon, which under federal law, disallows him from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. Following his indictment by a federal grand jury on July 10, 2024, McMahon now faces the possibility of life in prison. The sentencing, which will take cues from the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors, awaits the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case fell under the ambit of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a key Department of Justice initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through collaborative community strategies. PSN's evidence-based, focused approach targets the most serious offenders and integrates with local prevention and reentry programs to achieve sustainable crime reduction. Charges were brought forth by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Lee and John B. Ross, and 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, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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