'Third World Mob' gang member guilty of trafficking over 2K pounds of marijuana in central Ohio sentenced

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A member of a violent organized criminal drug organization who was convicted by a federal jury over one year ago received his sentenced this week.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Ohio, 36-year-old Klegewerges Abate, of Columbus, was convicted of conspiring to traffic over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, firearms offense, and wire fraud related to illegally obtaining COVID-19 pandemic relief funds.

A jury deliberated for less than six hours in Aug. 2024 before handing over a guilty verdict and on Friday, a federal judge sentenced Abate to serve 25 years and 10 months in prison.

Abate, also knowns as “Bells”, “Robell” and “Sosa”, was a member of the Third World Mob criminal organization, according to court documents, whose members associated with the gang brought hundreds of pounds of marijuana from across the country to sell in central Ohio.

Conspirators reportedly used U-Haul trucks and rental cars to move drugs and used stash or trap houses, owned or leased in other individuals’ names to facilitate drug trafficking and cash storage.

Authorities state that in Aug. 2019 Abate and others possessed a suitcase with approximately $940,000 in cash at a house on Phlox Avenue in Blacklick. During a 2022 search of another Blacklick home, on Chapel Stone Road, officials found two co-conspirators and seized more than 700 kilograms of marijuana and three firearms.

Surveillance video shown at Abate’s trial showed him shooting a man at a restaurant in Columbus and the jury heard testimony of other examples of violence, including shootings and pistol-whipping. Third World Mob leaders and members also allegedly used violence and the threat of violence to maintain authority over their drug trafficking.

In total, the United States Attorney’s Office states that seven members of the Third World Mob have been charged federally since 2021.

Co-defendant Abubakarr Savage, 36, was also convicted at trial with Abate. He was sentenced July 2025 to more than 15 years in prison. Fellow Third World Mob member Menelik Solomon pleaded guilty in November 2023 and was also sentenced to more than 15 years in prison. Teddy Asefa pleaded guilty to similar charges that Abate faced.

While Ohio legalized recreational cannabis in 2023 and recently launched sales, there remains a prohibition at the federal level, where the pair were prosecuted. The amount investigators found them holding also vastly exceeds the legal possession limit set in state law.