TAMPA -- Three current and one former member of the Black activist Uhuru movement have been convicted of one charge related to allegations that they acted as agents of Russia.
Federal prosecutors say 82-year-old Uhuru founder Omali Yeshitela, 78-year-old Penny Hess and 34-year-old Jesse Nevel of St. Louis promoted talking points on issues such as the Russia-Ukraine war, given to them by Aleksandr Ionov, the head fof an organization funded by the Russian government. They also alleged that the Uhurus acted on Russia's behalf by promoting candidates for city council in St. Petersburg, Florida, a longtime center of Uhuru activity.
The three Uhuru defendants and a former member of the Uhurus, 38-year-old Augustus Romain Jr. of Atlanta, were all found guilty of conspiracy to act as unregistered agents of Russia. The same jury also found them not guilty of the more serious charge of acting as agents of a foreign government.
The defendants were indicted in April of 2023, following a raid on the Uhuru House in St. Petersburg. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
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