COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Klegewerges Abate, a 36-year-old Columbus man and known member of the violent Third World Mob gang, has been sentenced to 310 months (over 25 years) in federal prison.
Abate, also known as “Bells,” “Robell,” and “Sosa,” was convicted in August 2024 after an eight-day trial. The jury found him guilty on all charges, including conspiracy to traffic over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, firearms violations, and wire fraud related to pandemic unemployment benefits.
According to court records and testimony, Abate and other gang members moved large quantities of marijuana from California and Georgia into central Ohio, using U-Haul trucks, rental cars, and stash houses to store drugs and cash.
In August 2019, nearly $940,000 in cash was discovered in a suitcase at a stash house in Blacklick. A later search in November 2022 uncovered over 700 kilograms of marijuana and three firearms.
The Third World Mob has been linked to multiple homicides, including the deaths of members Yiarid Tesfai and Fentahun Megistu during violent drug disputes.
Surveillance video presented in court showed Abate—a convicted felon—shooting a man at a Columbus restaurant. Other acts of violence included pistol-whipping and threats to rival dealers.
Abate was also convicted of fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief funds, falsely claiming to be a self-employed landscaper while continuing his drug operations.
Since 2021, seven members of the gang have been federally charged. Co-defendant Abubakarr Savage was sentenced in July 2025 to more than 15 years, and Menelik Solomon received a similar sentence after pleading guilty.
Authorities say Abate’s sentence reflects both the severity of his crimes and the danger posed by the Third World Mob to the Columbus community.
