At one point, Holyoke City Councilor Wilmer Puello-Mota was being held without bail. Recently he has been spotted in Russia and Ukraine.
What the Hell Was He Thinking?
Wilmer Puello-Mota, 28, formerly with the Massachusetts Air National Guard, has become a focal point of controversy, consternation, and downright hatred following reports from the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office that he has defected to the Russian military amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict after skipping a court date in the US.
Puello-Mota was facing charges related to child pornography when he reportedly left the country. Social media chatter suggests he’s fighting alongside Russian forces in a key eastern Ukraine battle.
The alleged pedophile was initially due in a Rhode Island courtroom on January 5, 2024, but sought and received a postponement to January 9, 2024. However, on January 7, 2024, he departed the United States from Dulles International Airport, heading to Istanbul, Turkey. Once safely in Turkey, he made his way to Russia.
Why Was He Allowed to Board A Plane?
One can’t help but wonder how he managed to board an aircraft while facing multiple felony counts of possession of child pornography. I was stopped and questioned by TSA for accidentally trying to bring half an ounce too much mouthwash aboard an aircraft last January.
SOFREP has also discovered that Puello-Mota also had a warrant for his arrest issued by the Rhode Island State Attorney General’s office for forgery, counterfeiting, and obstruction of justice.
In evaluating the child pornography case against Puello-Mota, a critical factor for prosecutors was determining whether his military superiors were informed of the charges and whether they endorsed his ongoing service. Authorities have stated that Puello-Mota provided a falsified letter from a supervisor in this context.
“Don Veitch, a spokesperson for the 104th Fighter Wing in Massachusetts, shared with Military.com, “We’re aware of Mr. Puello-Mota’s departure from the country due to civil criminal charges against him.”
These serious charges led to Puello-Mota’s removal from the Guard in October 2022. “Criminal behavior goes against everything we stand for and won’t be tolerated,” Veitch stated.
What the Hell Was He Thinking?
Wilmer Puello-Mota, 28, formerly with the Massachusetts Air National Guard, has become a focal point of controversy, consternation, and downright hatred following reports from the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office that he has defected to the Russian military amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict after skipping a court date in the US.
Puello-Mota was facing charges related to child pornography when he reportedly left the country. Social media chatter suggests he’s fighting alongside Russian forces in a key eastern Ukraine battle.
The alleged pedophile was initially due in a Rhode Island courtroom on January 5, 2024, but sought and received a postponement to January 9, 2024. However, on January 7, 2024, he departed the United States from Dulles International Airport, heading to Istanbul, Turkey. Once safely in Turkey, he made his way to Russia.
Why Was He Allowed to Board A Plane?
One can’t help but wonder how he managed to board an aircraft while facing multiple felony counts of possession of child pornography. I was stopped and questioned by TSA for accidentally trying to bring half an ounce too much mouthwash aboard an aircraft last January.
SOFREP has also discovered that Puello-Mota also had a warrant for his arrest issued by the Rhode Island State Attorney General’s office for forgery, counterfeiting, and obstruction of justice.
In evaluating the child pornography case against Puello-Mota, a critical factor for prosecutors was determining whether his military superiors were informed of the charges and whether they endorsed his ongoing service. Authorities have stated that Puello-Mota provided a falsified letter from a supervisor in this context.
“Don Veitch, a spokesperson for the 104th Fighter Wing in Massachusetts, shared with Military.com, “We’re aware of Mr. Puello-Mota’s departure from the country due to civil criminal charges against him.”
These serious charges led to Puello-Mota’s removal from the Guard in October 2022. “Criminal behavior goes against everything we stand for and won’t be tolerated,” Veitch stated.
Puello-Mota had previously served in the Air Force, including a 2015 deployment to Afghanistan with the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing.
In 2020, he was charged with possession of child pornography, stemming from allegations of soliciting nude photos from a minor while serving as a city councilman in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The minor female in question was 17 at the time Puello-Mota allegedly Venmoed her money in exchange for sexually explicit photos. She says he was well aware of her age.
Working With The Russian Army
Posts on Facebook and Telegram have fueled speculations about Puello-Mota enlisting in the Russian army. A Telegram video claims to show him joining the Russian military, stating, “‘Will’ previously served in the US Armed Forces but, after seeing the situation in Ukraine, joined the North Military District as a volunteer,” according to the video. “I helped liberate Avdiivka.”
Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022, the US has provided Ukraine with approximately $44.2 billion in security assistance.
The authenticity of these social media claims is uncertain, but court documents take them as proof of Puello-Mota leaving US jurisdiction.
A Facebook profile belonging to Will Puello displays an image of the Kremlin. It details his current residence as Moscow, Russia, along with his employment at “Министерство обороны Российской Федерации,” which is the Russian for the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
UPDATE: The Air Guardsman flying the US flag for RU in Avdiivka has been identified.
Wilmer Puello-Mota fled the U.S. in January after he was caught with illicit photos of a teenager on his phone.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said, “We’ve received photos and videos that are said to be of the defendant in Russia and Ukraine allegedly joining the Russian military. If true, he is beyond our court’s jurisdiction. If not, it suggests he’s hiding his location.”
Neronha’s office has declined further comment due to the ongoing nature of the case.
The Massachusetts National Guard typically waits for civilian legal proceedings to conclude before acting against service members.
Video of American traitor and fugitive pedophile Wilmer Puello-Mota who fled the United States from criminal charges of child pornography to join the Russian army. pic.twitter.com/vKSsvpAwyp
Last summer, another case involved US soldier Pvt. Travis King fleeing into North Korea. He had been detained in South Korea on assault charges and was supposed to return to Fort Bliss, Texas. Instead, he ended up crossing into North Korea but was returned to the US in September and now faces eight charges, including child pornography and desertion.
As someone who’s seen what happens when the truth is distorted, I know how unfair it feels when those who’ve sacrificed the most lose their voice. At SOFREP, our veteran journalists, who once fought for freedom, now fight to bring you unfiltered, real-world intel. But without your support, we risk losing this vital source of truth. By subscribing, you’re not just leveling the playing field—you’re standing with those who’ve already given so much, ensuring they continue to serve by delivering stories that matter. Every subscription means we can hire more veterans and keep their hard-earned knowledge in the fight. Don’t let their voices be silenced. Please consider subscribing now.
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Brandon Webb former Navy SEAL, Bestselling Author and Editor-in-Chief
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