BEAUMONT, TX – Leotis Cornelius McMahon, 48, of Buna, Texas, is facing over three decades behind bars after being sentenced for a brazen operation peddling meth and illegally possessing firearms. U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone handed down a 400-month sentence – that’s 33 years and 4 months – on August 27, 2025, following a three-day trial that concluded February 5, 2025. McMahon was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
The case, built on a year-long investigation, revealed McMahon wasn’t just a small-time dealer. Law enforcement began tracking his narcotics distribution network throughout Southeast Texas in 2023. On January 5, 2024, a traffic stop in Lumberton uncovered nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine McMahon was transporting. That stop cracked the case wide open.
A subsequent raid on McMahon’s Buna residence confirmed he was running a full-scale, mobile drug shop. Officers seized scales, packaging materials, and four firearms – including a dangerous AR-style pistol. One of those guns had been reported stolen, adding another layer of criminality to the already damning evidence. The sheer volume of drugs and trafficking tools indicated McMahon was motivated by significant profit.
But the firearms charge was just as serious. McMahon, a convicted felon, was legally prohibited from owning or possessing any firearms or ammunition. This wasn’t a first offense, and the judge clearly considered his history when delivering the harsh sentence. He knew the rules, and he broke them anyway, putting more weapons on the street and fueling the addiction crisis in the region.
Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs highlighted the case as part of “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide initiative targeting cartels, transnational criminal organizations, and violent crime. The operation leverages resources from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) to dismantle these networks. This sentencing sends a clear message: those who profit from poisoning our communities and illegally arming themselves will face the full weight of federal law.
The investigation was a collaborative effort, involving the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Texas Department of Public Safety – Criminal Investigations, Lumberton Police Department, Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, Beaumont Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Lee and John B. Ross prosecuted the case, securing a conviction that will keep a dangerous criminal off the streets for decades.
RELATED: Meth Kingpin Free Gets 22 Years
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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