A former Massachusetts city councilor who is wanted on child pornography charges in the United States has purportedly joined the Russian military, as revealed in recent interviews and videos from Russian media. Wilmer Puello-Mota, who had served as both a councilor and a member of the Massachusetts National Guard, fled the country prior to his trial on the charges and has since surfaced in Russia seeking citizenship and military engagement.
Puello-Mota was first detained in September 2020 following allegations by a 17-year-old girl, who reported to Warwick, Rhode Island police that he had sent her money for sexually explicit photos, aware of her being underage, according to court documents. Charged with possession of child pornography, he also faces accusations related to forgery and counterfeiting, as well as obstruction of the judicial system. The charges stem from what is described as a scheme to mislead prosecutors and his commanders to be deployed with the National Guard despite the criminal charges.
While Puello-Mota faced significant troubles in the U.S., he was readily accepted into Russia’s military. A Russian government source informed The Daily Beast that the Russian Defense Ministry was well-informed about the allegations against him. Videos recently circulated on social media and Russian TV show Puello-Mota, identified by local media as “Wil,” at a military registration office in Khanty-Mansiysk, expressing his gratitude for the “opportunity” and the “insurance, pension, and other support measures” that Russian citizenship brings.
The former councilor’s presence in the Russian military has been leveraged in propaganda, with pro-war bloggers disseminating footage of him pledging his commitment to Russia’s military actions. One such video depicted him at a recruitment center with a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the background, signing up to join the war effort on behalf of the Kremlin.
“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.”
Former colleagues and citizens of Holyoke are shocked by the developments, recognizing Puello-Mota in the videos disseminated online. “That’s Wil in it. It looks like Wil. It sounds like Wil,” remarked Holyoke City Councilor David Bartley.
Councilor Juan Anderson-Burgos added, “I am 100% sure.”
Relevant articles:
– New Twist in Case of Ex-Guardsman Who Fled to Russia Amid Child Porn Charges
– Ex-Mass. city councilor who fled US over child porn charge enlists with Russia in war with Ukraine: reports, New York Post, Mon, 08 Apr 2024 05:46:00 GMT
– Holyoke councilor: Video reportedly shows him joining Russian army, The Boston Globe, Fri, 05 Apr 2024 19:15:00 GMT