By A federal jury has convicted four U.S. citizens of conspiring to act as illegal agents of the Russian government, unveiling a complex network of foreign influence operations within the United States. The verdict, delivered after a thorough trial, marks a significant development in the ongoing efforts to counter Russian interference in American affairs.
Omali Yeshitela, 82, Penny Hess, 78, and Jesse Nevel, 34, all from St. Louis, along with Augustus C. Romain Jr., 38, of Atlanta, were found guilty of engaging in a conspiracy that spanned from May 2015 to July 2022. The defendants, leaders of the African People’s Socialist Party (APSP) or its affiliates, worked under the direction of Aleksandr Viktorovich Ionov, a Moscow resident with ties to the Russian government.
Evidence presented at trial revealed that Ionov, founder of the Anti-Globalization Movement of Russia (AGMR), acted as a conduit for the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). His operations were supervised by FSB officers Aleksey Borisovich Sukhodolov and Yegor Sergeyevich Popov, both of whom have been indicted separately.
The conspiracy began with Ionov inviting Yeshitela to Russia in May 2015 for an all-expenses-paid trip to discuss “future cooperation.” Subsequent communications, shared among the defendants, explicitly acknowledged Ionov’s role as an instrument of the Russian government, aimed at sowing division within the United States.
Under Ionov’s direction, the defendants undertook various actions to support Russian interests. These included drafting and publishing a petition to the United Nations accusing the U.S. of genocide against African people, which Ionov later promoted in Russian media. The APSP also conducted a four-city tour to promote this petition, funded by a $12,000 guarantee letter from Ionov.
The influence operation extended to attempts to sway local elections in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 2017 and 2019. Ionov offered support, including “campaign finance,” to Nevel during his mayoral campaign in 2017. In 2019, Ionov regularly reported to the FSB about a local election, referring to one candidate as “whom we supervise.”
The conspiracy intensified following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. At the FSB’s direction, Ionov orchestrated demonstrations against social media companies in California and Georgia, protesting the suppression of pro-Russian viewpoints. These actions involved members of both the APSP and Romain’s group, Black Hammer.
Throughout the operation, the defendants maintained regular contact with Ionov, receiving instructions and providing reports on their activities. Romain openly declared his organization’s relationship with “the Kremlin” during a demonstration at the Georgia state capitol in June 2022.
The convictions carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each defendant. The case, investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by the Justice Department’s National Security Division, underscores the persistent threat of foreign influence operations within the United States.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen and FBI Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells emphasized the significance of this case in countering Russian efforts to undermine U.S. interests through covert means. The convictions serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies in safeguarding the nation’s democratic processes from foreign interference.
As the defendants await sentencing, this case is likely to have far-reaching implications for U.S.-Russia relations and domestic efforts to identify and neutralize foreign influence campaigns. It also raises questions about the vulnerability of activist organizations to exploitation by foreign powers seeking to manipulate public opinion and political processes in the United States.
Source: DOJ
