McBee Convicted of Felon in Possession of Firearm

A federal jury in Oklahoma has convicted a 39-year-old man of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition after a two-day trial in Tulsa. Mario Terrell McBee, a member of the Chickasaw Nation, was found guilty of violating federal law by possessing a loaded 9mm firearm.

According to court records, McBee was taken to the hospital on April 23, 2021, after a family friend suspected he had overdosed on drugs. Emergency room nurses discovered the firearm in McBee’s waistband and removed it before administering Narcan to revive him.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI took possession of the firearm and discovered that McBee had previous felony convictions for drug-related offenses, assault and battery on a police officer, and eluding a police officer.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mandy M. Mackenzie and Thomas E. Buscemi prosecuted the case, which is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in communities nationwide.

McBee will remain in custody until sentencing, a date for which has not been set. His previous felonies consist of multiple drug-related offenses, assault and battery on a police officer, and eluding a police officer, all of which make him ineligible to possess a firearm.

The conviction is a result of the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat gun violence and hold individuals accountable for violating federal laws. As part of the PSN program, the U.S. Department of Justice is working to strengthen community-based organizations and set focused enforcement priorities to reduce violent crime.

The case is a reminder that the consequences of violating federal laws can be severe, and that law enforcement will continue to work tirelessly to bring those who break the law to justice.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. For more information about PSN, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.