Basho Arbo Sentenced to 28 to 30.5 Years For Orchestrating Robbery Ring in Columbus’ Short North Area

Posted on 11/17/2022

Defendant: Basho Arbo

A 20-year-old Columbus man who orchestrated a string of aggravated robberies with guns was sentenced on Thursday, Nov. 10, to 28 to 30.5 years in prison.

Franklin County Court Judge Michael Holbrook sentenced Basho H. Arbo on six separate counts of aggravated robberies for his role in the crimes in the Short North area.

In July and August 2021, Arbo and a group of juveniles would find victims late at night in the Short North area, hold them at gunpoint and steal from them. In most of the cases, the suspects made their victims unlock their phones and provide bank account information. As a result, the victims would later discover money withdrawn and other accounts compromised.

While there were approximately 12 incidents fitting the group’s scheme initially reported to police, victims from only four of those were willing to cooperate with a prosecution. Those victims, through their ability to identify Arbo and their willingness to cooperate with the process, played a vital role in the prosecution’s case. Arbo was the ringleader of and the only adult in the group. Arbo pled guilty on Aug. 3, 2022. While he had a minimal criminal record and the victims did not suffer physical injury, the victims certainly suffered psychological and financial harm. Judge Holbrook entered the sentence after hearing the facts and a full and compelling victim impact statement.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Steve Schott handled the case for the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office.