Columbus, Ohio – A major figure in one of Columbus’s most prolific and dangerous drug gangs has been sentenced to more than 17 years in federal prison following a long investigation that unraveled a web of violent crimes, drug smuggling, and financial fraud.
Teddy Asefa, 37, a key leader of the gang known as Third World Mob (3WM), received a sentence of 210 months in prison in federal court for his role in a criminal enterprise that trafficked more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and raked in tens of millions of dollars. Asefa had pleaded guilty in August 2024, just days before his trial was set to begin, admitting to drug trafficking and wire fraud charges.
Massive Operation with Nationwide Reach
According to federal court records, the Third World Mob operated with military-like coordination, moving hundreds of pounds of marijuana each month into central Ohio from states like California and Georgia. The drug pipeline ran from 2015 through October 2022, with profits soaring to at least $94 million over the years.
To move the massive amounts of marijuana, gang members used rental vehicles and U-Haul trucks. The gang also maintained a network of “stash houses” and “trap houses” — many of which were rented or purchased under fake names — where they stored drugs and laundered large amounts of cash.
In one striking example from August 2019, law enforcement found a suitcase containing around $940,000 in cash inside a home on Phlox Avenue in Blacklick.
Violence and Intimidation Central to Power
The gang didn’t just rely on stealth to keep control. Third World Mob leaders enforced their authority through threats, assaults, and fatal violence. Sentencing documents connect several deaths to the gang, including one victim who was allegedly murdered over a drug debt. Another member was killed in a house on Reeb Avenue, triggering a series of retaliatory killings involving those who may have been present at the time. Additionally, another affiliate was shot and killed during a drug deal outside a stash house on 12th Avenue.
These incidents painted a dark picture of the gang’s internal code and its use of deadly force to maintain discipline and control over its territory.
Beyond drug trafficking, Asefa also admitted to defrauding the government by fraudulently collecting Pandemic Unemployment Assistance funds. He falsely claimed to work in customer service and received at least $16,000 in benefits intended for out-of-work individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wider Crackdown Brings Multiple Convictions
Asefa is one of seven 3WM members charged federally since 2021. Authorities have made substantial progress in dismantling the gang:
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Menelik Solomon pleaded guilty in November 2023 and was sentenced to over 15 years in prison.
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Klegewerges Abate and Abubakarr Savage were both found guilty on all counts during their August 2024 trial. Abate received a sentence of over 25 years, while Savage was given more than 15 years.
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Another defendant tried alongside Abate and Savage was acquitted of a single obstruction charge.
Federal investigators say the case underscores the impact of long-term, focused investigations in taking down violent criminal organizations operating across state lines.
Asefa’s sentencing marks a significant blow to the gang’s leadership structure, and federal authorities emphasized their continued commitment to dismantling dangerous drug networks.
