BEAUMONT, Texas – In a tough blow to the Eastern District of Texas’s illegal drug trade, Leotis Cornelius McMahon, 48, from Buna, has been sentenced to over 33 years in federal prison for firearms and drug trafficking violations. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on August 27, 2025, sees McMahon serve 400 months behind bars.
Much of the evidence against McMahon was laid out during a three-day trial that concluded on February 5, 2025. McMahon was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The conviction followed a meticulous investigation by federal and local law enforcement agencies.
In 2023, authorities had been tracking McMahon for distributing narcotics across Southeast Texas. On January 5, 2024, a traffic stop on McMahon led to the discovery of nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine. A subsequent search warrant at his residence in Buna yielded materials used in drug distribution and four firearms, including an AR style pistol. One of the seized firearms was stolen.
The investigation revealed that McMahon ran a mobile illegal drug operation, with substantial evidence pointing to significant drug dealing for profit. McMahon’s criminal history, which includes being a convicted felon, made him prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Texas Department of Public Safety, Lumberton Police Department, Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, Beaumont Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Lee and John B. Ross.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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