Former Air National Guardsman Accused of Child Pornography Charges Allegedly Joins Russian Army in Ukraine Conflict
A former Air National Guardsman, Wilmer Puello-Mota, is facing serious allegations after reportedly defecting and joining the Russian army in its war against Ukraine. The Rhode Island attorney general’s office has accused Puello-Mota, 28, of fleeing the country following charges of possession of child pornography.
Puello-Mota, a former security forces technical sergeant with the Massachusetts Air National Guard, was removed from the National Guard in October 2022 due to the charges against him. The spokesperson for the 104th Fighter Wing in Massachusetts emphasized that criminal activity is not tolerated in their ranks.
Before his time in the National Guard, Puello-Mota served in the active-duty Air Force as a security forces airman. He was charged in 2020 with possession of child pornography after allegedly soliciting nude photos from a teenager. Despite the legal proceedings, he served as a city councilman in Holyoke, Massachusetts, from January 2022 to January 2024.
According to court documents from the Rhode Island attorney general’s office, Puello-Mota’s last known location was Istanbul, Turkey. He reportedly boarded a flight on Jan. 7, just two days before he was scheduled to appear in court for the child pornography charges.
Social media posts from Puello-Mota and other users allegedly in Russia suggest that he joined the Russian army in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. While the authenticity of these posts is unclear, they are considered as evidence that Puello-Mota left U.S. jurisdiction.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha stated, “The state has received photos and videos purporting to be the defendant in Russia and Ukraine, where he is alleged to have joined the Russian military. 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.”
The case of Wilmer Puello-Mota highlights the complex and concerning nature of his actions, as he faces serious charges in the U.S. while allegedly participating in a foreign conflict.
