A U.S. Air Force veteran who fled a charge of possessing sexually explicit images of a child told his lawyer he joined Russia’s army. And video appears to show him signing documents in a military enlistment office in Siberia. Wilmer Puello-Mota is also a former elected official in the small Massachusetts city of Holyoke.
This undated still image taken from video posted on pro-Kremlin media sites appears to show Wilmer Puello-Mota in a military enlistment office in Siberia. Puello-Mota, a U.S. Air Force veteran and former elected official in Massachusetts who fled the U.S. after being charged with possessing sexually explicit images of a child, told his lawyer he joined Russia ’s army.
“I’m sure he joined the Russian army because he didn’t want to register as a sex offender,” Cicilline said. Puello-Mota was arrested in 2020 in Warwick, Rhode Island, after he called to report a stolen gun and police said they found nude images of a 17-year-old girl on his phone. He was charged with one count of having sexually explicit images of a child. He was later also charged with trying to deceive prosecutors and his commanders about the case. Cicilline told the Globe he reached a deal to plead guilty to all charges in exchange for an 18-month prison sentence.
“While the state cannot verify the authenticity of the videos and photographs, if they are accurate the defendant is well beyond the jurisdiction of this court and, if false, the defendant is engaged in an elaborate ruse to conceal his whereabouts,” Rhode Island prosecutors said. The AP verified the location after examining satellite imagery and historical photos of the area. According to a plaque on the door, it’s a military recruitment center run by the Russian Defense Ministry.
Ian Garner, an assistant professor of politics at Queen’s University in Canada, called it “a huge propaganda opportunity” for Russia.
United States Government Russia General News United States MA State Wire RI State Wire Russia-Ukraine War U.S. Air Force Veterans Russia Ukraine War N Ukraine Russia Government World News Military And Defense Politics U.S. News A World News
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Kyiv Under ‘Massive’ Russian Attack as Poland Readies Air ForceA Russian missile headed for Ukraine temporarily breached Polish airspace on Sunday.
Read more »
Live blog: Ukraine downs all 31 Russian missiles targeting Kiev — air forceRussia-Ukraine war, the largest armed conflict in Europe since WW2, enters its 758th day.
Read more »
Putin's Air Force Bombs Russian Village Claimed by Rebels: VideoThree Ukraine-aligned volunteer military units made a crossborder raid Tuesday into Russia's Belgorod and Kursk regions.
Read more »
Russian Air Force's Pilot Training Hub Hit by Drones in Explosive VideoThe Borisoglebsk pilot training center in the Voronezh region helps to deliver new 'top guns' to Vladimir Putin's air force.
Read more »
Air Force, Space Force now offering incentive pay for those at coldest duty stationsService members in the Air Force or Space Force stationed in Alaska are now eligible to receive incentive pay for living in extreme cold conditions.
Read more »
Maxwell Air Force Base hosts day 1 of Beyond the Horizon Air ShowDay one of the Beyond the Horizon Air Show saw thousands in attendance.
Read more »