World Courant
A former Air Nationwide Guardsman accused of kid pornography defected and joined the Russian army within the conflict towards Ukraine, the Rhode Island legal professional common’s workplace claims.
Wilmer Puello-Mota, 28, a former safety forces technical sergeant within the Massachusetts Air Nationwide Guard, is believed to have fled the nation following costs of possession of kid pornography.
“We’re conscious that Mr. Puello-Mota has left the nation in response to civil legal costs filed towards him,” Don Veitch, a spokesman for the 104th Fighter Wing in Massachusetts, instructed Army.com, citing careworn that the costs “are very critical. “
The allegations prompted Puello-Mota’s elimination from the Nationwide Guard in October 2022.
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Wilmer Puello-Mota, 28, a former safety forces technical sergeant within the Massachusetts Air Nationwide Guard, is believed to have fled the nation following costs of possession of kid pornography. (iStock)
“Felony exercise is incompatible with our values as a corporation and won’t be tolerated inside our ranks,” Veitch mentioned.
Earlier than becoming a member of the Nationwide Guard, Puello-Mota served within the Air Power on energetic responsibility, together with as a safety forces pilot, based on an Air Power information launch in regards to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing’s 2015 deployment to Afghanistan.
Puello-Mota was charged with possession of kid pornography in 2020 after he allegedly solicited nude photographs from a youngster, based on authorized paperwork, Army.com reported. He served as a metropolis councilman in Holyoke, Massachusetts, from January 2022 to January 2024, throughout many of the authorized proceedings associated to the costs.
In line with court docket paperwork from Rhode Island Legal professional Common Peter Neronha’s workplace, Puello-Mota’s final identified location was Istanbul, Turkey, based on Army.com. He boarded a flight on Jan. 7, two days earlier than he was scheduled to seem in court docket on youngster pornography costs, and departed Dulles Worldwide Airport in northern Virginia for Turkey.
Fb posts from Puello-Mota and Telegram posts from different customers reportedly in Russia declare that the previous Guardsman has joined the Russian army within the ongoing conflict towards Ukraine.
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Legal professional Common Peter Neronha’s workplace in Rhode Island (pictured), Wilmer Puello-Mota’s final identified location was Istanbul, Turkey. (AP Photograph/Steven Senne, file)
In a submit on Telegram, a video exhibits who customers consider is Puello-Mota signing as much as serve within the Russian army.
“Will served within the U.S. Armed Forces, however when he realized what was actually taking place in Ukraine, he got here to the Northern Army District as a volunteer a number of months in the past,” the video reads. “Along with the Russian boys, shoulder to shoulder, I liberated Avdiivka.”
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It’s unclear whether or not the social media posts are genuine, however court docket paperwork point out they’re thought of proof that Puello-Mota has left U.S. jurisdiction.
“The state has acquired pictures and movies alleging he’s the suspect in Russia and Ukraine, the place he’s alleged to have joined the Russian army,” Rhode Island Legal professional Common Peter Neronha mentioned in an announcement. “Whereas the state can’t confirm the authenticity of the movies and photographs, if correct, the suspect is way past the jurisdiction of this court docket and if false, he’s concerned in an elaborate ruse to hide his whereabouts. “
