3 Uhuru group members given no jail time and no fine after September conviction

TAMPA - Three members of the Uhuru group will spend no time in jail after a sentencing hearing Monday at the Tampa Federal Courthouse.

Omali Yeshitela, Penny Hess and Jesse Nevel, a 2017 candidate for St. Pete mayor, were given 36 months of probation, 300 hours of community service and no fine.

Uhuru group leaders spoke during a press conference after the sentencing hearing.

Uhuru chairman Omali Yeshitela.

Uhuru chairman Yeshitela says this two-year fight has been a testament to the resilience of the people involved with the Uhuru group.

"All of you, we couldn't have come this far without you, and I have so much appreciation. We've got people who come from everywhere, across all kinds of political and ideological spectrums," Yeshitela said.

The three members were convicted back in September of conspiring with Russian agents.

They were acquitted of the more serious charge of acting as agents of a foreign government.

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The U.S. government claimed that the Uhuru group conspired with the founder of the anti-globalization movement of Russia.

Prosecuters said founder Aleksandr Ionov was funded by the Russian government and successfully encouraged the three Uhuru defendants to petition the UN in 2015.

Each suspect was facing five years in prison.

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