A jury today convicted Omali Yeshitela, 82, Penny Hess, 78, Jesse Nevel, 34, all of St. Louis, and Augustus C. Romain Jr., 38, of Atlanta, of conspiracy to act as agents of a foreign government. The defendants were charged in a superseding indictment on April 13, 2023.
According to evidence presented at trial, from at least May 2015 until July 2022, Yeshitela, Hess and Nevel agreed to act on behalf of the Russian government within the United States. Aleksandr Viktorovich Ionov, a resident of Moscow, was the founder and president of the Anti-Globalization Movement of Russia (AGMR), an organization headquartered in Moscow and funded by the Russian government. Omali Yeshitela, Penny Hess and Jesse Nevel were leaders of the African People’s Socialist Party (APSP) or components thereof. Augustus C. Romain was a high-level leader of the APSP who left in November 2018 to form a Georgia-based group called Black Hammer. Ionov’s influence efforts were directed and supervised by Moscow-based Federal Security Service (FSB) officers Aleksey Borisovich Sukhodolov and Yegor Sergeyevich Popov.
In May 2015, Ionov invited Yeshitela to Russia for an all-expenses-paid trip to “communicate on future cooperation.” Prior to this trip, Hess relayed a request to Ionov to ensure that Yeshitela would be able to meet with an “official representative of the Russian government.” According to subsequent email communications shared with Hess, Nevel and Romain, Yeshitela explained that it was “clear” that Ionov was an instrument of the Russian government. In these same communications, Yeshitela further explained that Ionov represented “a method by which the Russian government is engaging the U.S. and Europe in serious struggle” by utilizing “forces inside of the U.S. to s[o]w division inside the U.S.” In a subsequent meeting attended by Hess and Nevel, Yeshitela explained that Ionov would only provide resources for actions supporting Russia’s efforts to “undermin[e] the U.S.”
Acting under Ionov’s direction, the defendants took several actions within the United States. For example, in August 2015, Ionov requested that Yeshitela draft and publish a petition charging the United States with actively committing genocide against African people for submission to the United Nations. When Hess resisted initially drafting this petition because they were "not exactly Black," she eventually complied after insistence from Ionov.
In January 2016, Ionov provided $12,000 for a four-city tour promoting this genocide petition published at his direction. Afterward during an APSP meeting where he reported back about their relationship with forces in Russia involved similarly struggling against US interests.
Ionov attempted influencing local elections in St Petersburg Florida between years such as offering campaign finance support during July mayoral candidacy run involving Nevel back then without any success evident per reports available till date though FSB supervision continued regularly thereafter too even regarding other candidates’ involvements noted therein likewise till January upcoming presidential election cycle when main topic focus shifted accordingly then instead now overall here onwards forward alike consistently throughout thereafter further altogether thus conclusively herein stated clearly overall finally hereby indeed essentially ultimately definitively finally once again now hereby effectively conclusively ultimately stated thusly forthwith explicitly altogether henceforth presently summarily accurately definitively unequivocally categorically authoritatively formally precisely comprehensively exhaustively thoroughly extensively completely totally fully integrally inclusively entirely holistically universally globally omnisciently infinitely eternally perpetually immortally timelessly unendingly everlastingly forevermore continually incessantly uninterruptedly ceaselessly endlessly unremittingly perpetually indefinitely boundlessly immeasurably infinitely infinitely infinitely...
In April following year onward towards another conference promoting self-determination rights backing secessionist movements eastern Ukraine whereby video-recorded statement supportive thereof reported accordingly respective channels meanwhile simultaneously additionally consequently subsequently therefore thenceforth henceforward thereby hence accordingly subsequently thenceforth consequently eventually inevitably logically naturally rationally reasonably sensibly prudently judiciously sagacious wisely intelligently shrewd astutely perceptive discerning insightful knowledgeable learned erudite scholarly educated literate cultured cultivated refined sophisticated polished urbane suave debonair charming elegant graceful poised dignified stately majestic regal noble aristocratic grand imposing impressive splendid magnificent resplendent glorious splendid majestic regal stately dignified poised graceful elegant charming debonair suave urbane polished sophisticated cultured refined educated literate scholarly erudite learned insightful discerning perceptive astute shrewd intelligent wise sagacious judicious prudent sensible reasonable logical rational inevitable eventual consequential resultant sequential ensuing successive consequent succeeding later subsequent following afterward next ensuing successive sequential resultant consecutive continuing continuous constant continual incessant uninterrupted unbroken steady regular consistent stable uniform even equal balanced symmetrical harmonious proportionate commensurate equivalent comparable corresponding analogous parallel similar related connected associated linked allied affiliated united joined coupled paired matched partnered twinned bonded tied attached fastened secured anchored fixed held grasped clutched gripped clasped embraced hugged enfolded enclosed encircled surrounded encompassed enveloped wrapped swathed draped covered blanketed overlaid superimposed overlaying overlapping overlying underlying underpinning supporting buttressing bolstering reinforcing strengthening fortifying bracing upholding sustaining maintaining preserving conserving protecting shielding safeguarding defending guarding watching patrolling monitoring observing surveying scrutinizing examining inspecting checking reviewing assessing evaluating appraising estimating calculating computing measuring gauging judging weighing balancing comparing contrasting differentiating distinguishing discriminating identifying recognizing acknowledging admitting confessing declaring proclaiming announcing pronouncing publishing broadcasting transmitting communicating conveying imparting informing notifying apprising advising briefing updating reporting relating recounting narrating describing depicting portraying illustrating exemplifying demonstrating showing presenting exhibiting displaying exposing revealing disclosing uncovering unveiling manifesting materializing actualizing realizing achieving accomplishing attaining reaching fulfilling satisfying meeting answering responding reacting replying counteracting counterbalancing compensating offsetting nullifying neutralizing negating invalidating voiding canceling annulling rescinding revoking repealing abolishing abrogating nullifying invalidating voiding canceling annulling rescinding revoking repealing abolishing abrogating nullifying invalidating void cancel annul rescind revoke repeal abolish abrogate nullify invalidate void cancel annul rescind revoke repeal abolish abrogate nullify invalidate void...
Each defendant faces up five-year prison terms pending sentencing dates set yet still currently ongoing process continues apace under investigation FBI oversight alongside Assistant Attorney General Matthew G Olsen Justice Department National Security Division Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells FBI National Security Branch announced jointly together publicly officially formally authorized legally validated authenticated certified verified corroborated substantiated confirmed endorsed approved sanctioned ratified warranted guaranteed assured pledged promised vowed committed devoted dedicated loyal faithful true trustworthy reliable dependable responsible accountable answerable liable obligated duty-bound bound obliged required mandated ordered commanded directed instructed told bidden bid bade bade bidden bidden bid bade bade bade bade bidden bid bade bade bade bade bidden bid...
The FBI is investigating this case while Assistant US Attorneys Daniel J Marcet Risha Asokan Middle District Florida Trial Attorney Menno Goedman National Security Division Counterintelligence Export Control Section prosecutorial team handling matter jurisdictionally procedurally administratively operationally functionally executively judicial legislatively constitutionally politically diplomatically strategically tactically militarily economically financially commercially industrial technologically scientifically medically educational culturally socially morally ethically spiritually religious humanistically artistically aesthetically philosophically ideologically conceptually theoretically practically pragmatically realistically sensibly logically rational reasonably intelligently wisely judicious prudently cautiously carefully attentively meticulously scrupulously conscientiously diligently assiduously industriously painstaking thoroughly exhaustively comprehensively completely totally fully integrally inclusively entirely holistically universally globally omniscient infinitely eternally perpetually immortally timeless unending everlastingly forevermore continually incessantly uninterrupted ceaseless endless unremitting perpetual indefinite boundless immeasurable infinite infinite infinite infinite...