Damien Diggs U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas
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 of Leotis Cornelius McMahon, 48, 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 documents revealed that law enforcement began investigating McMahon in 2023 for distributing narcotics across Southeast Texas. During the investigation, authorities conducted a traffic stop where McMahon was found transporting large quantities of marijuana, cocaine, and nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine. Following this stop, officers obtained and executed a search warrant at McMahon's residence in Buna. They discovered materials used for drug distribution and four firearms, including an AR-style pistol; one firearm was reported stolen.
McMahon was described as operating a mobile illegal drug shop with significant quantities of controlled substances and tools like scales and bags used for trafficking seized from him.
Further investigations showed that McMahon is a convicted felon who is 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 court will determine his sentence based on advisory guidelines and other statutory factors after completing a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which focuses on reducing violent crime through collaborative efforts among federal, state, and local entities. PSN targets violent offenders while partnering with prevention and reentry programs to achieve lasting crime reductions.
The investigation involved multiple agencies: 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.
