The U.S. Department of Justice has convicted four individuals, including a leader from the African People’s Socialist Party (APSP), for conspiring as unregistered Russian agents. From 2015 to 2022, these U.S. citizens collaborated with Moscow-based operative Aleksandr Ionov in activities aimed at destabilizing U.S. politics.
Directed by Ionov, Omali Yeshitela, 82, Penny Hess, 78, Jesse Nevel, 34, all from St. Louis, and Augustus C. Romain Jr., 38, from Atlanta, drafted a U.N. petition in 2015 accusing the U.S. of genocide against African Americans. Despite initial resistance, this petition was completed and circulated within Russian media.
Point phone camera here
In 2016, Ionov financed a tour to further advocate for the petition, with detailed reports sent back to him, underscoring the defendants’ direct involvement with Russian interests.
Over the years, Ionov also tried to influence local elections in St. Petersburg, Florida, by providing campaign finance and strategic advice to influence the outcomes, although evidence of his success is unclear.
In response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the defendants organized protests at U.S. social media companies to counteract perceived anti-Russian sentiments, as directed by Ionov. These actions were part of broader efforts to manipulate public opinion in favor of Russia.
Each defendant now faces up to five years in prison, with sentencing pending.
[CRAIG NIGRELLI]
A JURY CONVICTED FOUR U.S. CITIZENS, INCLUDING A PROMINENT LEADER OF THE AFRICAN PEOPLE’S SOCIALIST PARTY, OF CONSPIRING TO SERVE AS UNDECLARED AGENTS FOR RUSSIA.
FROM 2015 TO 2022, THE INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORTED RUSSIAN EFFORTS TO CREATE POLITICAL UNREST IN THE UNITED STATES. THEY ORGANIZED PROTESTS CHALLENGING U.S. POLICIES AND HIGHLIGHTING RACIAL INJUSTICES, ALIGNING WITH KREMLIN EFFORTS TO UNDERMINE THE U-S POLITICAL SYSTEM AND SOW DIVISION..
PROSECUTORS SAID THE GROUP, DIRECTED BY RUSSIA, ORGANIZED PROTESTS IN 2016 ACCUSING THE U.S. OF COMMITTING GENOCIDE AGAINST BLACK AMERICANS. THE CONVICTED AGENTS ALSO SUPPORTED RUSSIA’S INTERESTS, INCLUDING BY OPPOSING U.S. POLICIES DURING THE UKRAINE CONFLICT.
THE DEFENSE ARGUED THE FOUR AMERICANS WERE NOT FULLY AWARE OF THERI RUSSIAN CONTACTS GOVERNMENT CONNECTIONS — MAINTAINING THAT THEIR ACTIVITIES WERE CONSISTENT WITH THE A-P-S-P’S LONG STANDING MISSION ADVOCATING FOR BLACK EMPOWERMENT. THEY SUGGESTED THAT their Russian contact ALEKSANDER IONOV — WHO LED THE ANTI-GLOBALIZATION MOVEMENT OF RUSSIA — CONCEALED HIS TIES TO RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE.
HOWEVER, THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED SHOWED DELIBERATE ACTIONS TO AID RUSSIAN OBJECTIVES, INCLUDING INFLUENCING U.S. ELECTIONS AND POLICY DEBATES.
THEY EACH FACE UP TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON.
FOR MORE OF OUR UNBIASED — STRAIGHT FACTS REPORTING — DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT US AT SAN – DOT – COM.
Straight to your inbox.
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
