U.S. Air Force Veteran Flees Child Pornography Charge to Join Russian Army in Siberia

On January 8, 2023, former U.S. Air Force veteran Wilmer Puello-Mota, who was expected to plead guilty in Rhode Island for possessing sexually explicit images of a child, did not show up to court. It was later revealed that he boarded a flight from Washington, D.C. to Istanbul, Turkey, a day earlier. Puello-Mota's lawyer, John M. Cicilline, stated that the 28-year-old veteran had expressed his decision to join the Russian army to avoid registering as a sex offender. Cicilline mentioned that Puello-Mota believed that the criminal case had destroyed his career in politics.

Arrest and Charges

Puello-Mota was arrested in 2020 in Warwick, Rhode Island, after police found nude images of a 17-year-old girl on his phone. He was charged with possessing sexually explicit images of a child and attempting to deceive prosecutors and his superiors about the case.

Videos surfaced, allegedly showing Puello-Mota in Ukraine and Russia, with one video showing him entering a building in Khanty-Mansiysk and shaking hands with a uniformed man before signing a document. Officials stated that the authenticity of the videos and photographs couldn't be verified, and it was uncertain whether Puello-Mota was still within the jurisdiction of the Rhode Island court.

Response from Authorities

The Rhode Island attorney general's office expressed uncertainty about the videos and photographs, while the U.S. State Department acknowledged the media reports but stated that they had no contact with Puello-Mota and could not confirm the reports.

Officials who knew Puello-Mota expressed shock and disbelief at the videos. A former colleague described the person in the video as bearing a striking resemblance to Puello-Mota but expressed surprise at any potential connection to Russia.

Impact on Military Status

Due to the criminal charges, Puello-Mota's rank in the Massachusetts Air National Guard was impacted, and he was forced to leave in October 2022, with his security clearance being revoked as well.

Experts commented that the situation presented a propaganda opportunity for Russia, showcasing an American citizen who seemed to have aligned with the Russian military. This was seen as possibly serving Russia's narrative in the ongoing conflict. Under Rhode Island law, Puello-Mota's trial cannot commence without his presence, leaving the legal status of his case in question.