The conviction of two members of the Third World Mob gang in Columbus, Ohio, for drug trafficking and firearms charges has underscored the continuing struggle against organized crime in the Midwest. Klegewerges Abate and Abubakarr Savage, identified as members of the gang, were found guilty following a jury trial, with the jury deliberating for less than six hours before reaching their verdict, as reported by ABC6.
Despite Ohio's legalization of recreational cannabis in 2023, this case was prosecuted federally, where cannabis remains illegal, and notably, the quantity in possession by the gang members far exceeded Ohio's legal limits with over 2,000 pounds of marijuana involved in their operation they trafficked hundreds of pounds of marijuana without fearing legal repercussions, seemingly convinced that enforcement against marijuana was not a priority which has proven to be a costly misjudgment. The operation utilized U-Haul trucks and rental vehicles to transport the drugs. It relied on homes, often registered in others' names, as stash houses for both drugs and cash earnings, according to court documents cited by The Dispatch.
Abate, known by his aliases "Bells," "Robell," and "Sosa," and Savage, referred to as "Sav" and "Savdripp," were part of an enterprise that had been active since 2015. Abate, in particular, was also found guilty of wire fraud related to illegally obtaining COVID-19 pandemic relief funds, falsely claiming he was a self-employed landscaper, as per a statement obtained by NBC4i.
Surveillance footage presented during the trial showed Abate engaging in a shooting outside a restaurant, with the jury also hearing of other violent acts, including shootings and pistol-whipping orchestrated by this group to maintain their control over drug-dealing operations, according to trial testimonies mentioned by The Dispatch. In addition to the convictions of Abate and Savage, previous member Menelik Solomon was sentenced to over 15 years in prison, while Teddy Asefa, also a known member of the Third World Mob, pleaded guilty just before trial to similar charges.
