BOSTON — 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, a former elected official in a small Massachusetts city, was expected to enter a guilty plea in Rhode Island in early January, but did not show up to court, according to prosecutors.
Last week, video surfaced that appears to show the 28-year-old in Russia and expressing support for the country's war against Ukraine — footage that could be used to promote Moscow's narrative of the conflict.
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.
His lawyer, John M. Cicilline, told The Boston Globe that he called Puello-Mota on Jan. 8, the day before he was expected to plead guilty. According to prosecutors, he boarded a flight from Washington, D.C., to Istanbul, Turkey, a day earlier.
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"He said, 'I joined the Russian army,' or something like that," Cicilline told the Globe. "I thought he was joking."
Cicilline said Puello-Mota wanted a career in politics and thought the criminal case ruined his life.
"I'm sure he joined the Russian army because he didn't want to register as a sex offender," Cicilline said.
The Associated Press made several calls to Cicilline. A person answering his office phone said he would not make any additional comment.
Puello-Mota served in the U.S. Air Force and deployed to Afghanistan in 2015, when he was 19, media releases show. He later served with the Massachusetts Air National Guard's 104th Fighter Wing as a security forces airman.
Wilmer Puello-Mota, left, then a member of the U.S. Air Force, provides security Aug. 28, 2015, at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.
The criminal case
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 later also was 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.
Videos surfaced on Russian social media and local television in March showing the blurred image of a man in a uniform in what appears to be a war zone displaying the U.S. flag.
In video posted online last week, a man who looks like Puello-Mota talks directly to the camera, speaking in English over background music and Russian subtitles and discussing a military operation. He does not say his name, and the videos do not mention the Rhode Island criminal case.
President Vladimir Putin eliminated nearly all independent media in Russia — and state media aligned regularly trumpet Russian victories in Ukraine, denounce the West and otherwise amplify good news while ignoring the bad.
The Rhode Island attorney general's office said in a court document last month that it received images purporting to show Puello-Mota in Ukraine and Russia.
"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.
U.S. State Department officials said they were aware of media reports about Puello-Mota fleeing to Russia but have had no contact with him and have no way to confirm the reports.
This undated still image taken from video posted on pro-Kremlin media sites appears to show Wilmer Puello-Mota signing papers in a military enlistment office in Siberia.
Being used as propaganda
The most recent video appears to show Puello-Mota entering a building in Khanty-Mansiysk and shaking the hand of a uniformed man. At the end of the video, he is seen signing a document.
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.
"Obviously it's a difficult situation. It's war. It's a special military operation," Puello-Mota says in the video, adding that he was lucky to be with "people from the international brigade."
"We did our work. We did our job. We did what we were supposed to do," he said. "I was very lucky and fortunate to serve with those guys. I definitely would do it again."
Ian Garner, an assistant professor of politics at Queen's University in Canada, called it "a huge propaganda opportunity" for Russia.
"To be able to show off an American citizen who has chosen to reinvent themselves, to reform themselves and become a part of the Russian war machine seems to provide evidence that Russia is winning a much bigger spiritual war," he said.
Wilmer Puello-Mota, then a member of the 66th Security Forces Squadron, speaks during a gate dedication and renaming ceremony Oct. 2, 2018, at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts.
Puello-Mota held the rank of technical sergeant when he forced to leave the guard in October 2022 because of the criminal case, said Don Veitch, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts National Guard. His security clearance was revoked.
Holyoke City Councilor David Bartley, who worked with Puello-Mota on the City Council, said he considers him a good friend. He said the person in the video looks and sounds like him. "To me, that's him," he said.
He knew of no connections between Puello-Mota and Russia and called the footage "shocking."
"The Wil that I know was a good, decent person," Bartley said.
A Facebook page attributed to Puello-Mota includes a photo of the Kremlin and an updated profile photo of a man in a uniform operating a drone. It says he is from Holyoke and currently lives in Moscow and works at the Russian Defense Ministry, which is spelled in Russian.
Under Rhode Island law, Puello-Mota's trial cannot begin without him being present.
Two years into war, thousands of Ukrainians search for missing loved ones
Natalia Sheleshei, 39, and her children Yehor, 12, and Anastasia, 5, wait Feb. 12 for the return of Serhii at their apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine. Serhii Sheleshei, 49, a Ukrainian serviceman, disappeared Oct. 12, 2022, with three of his comrades during fighting at the frontline near Zaitseve, Donetsk region. "For a year and five months, I've lived with the uncertainty of whether my husband is alive or not," said Natalia, who juggles two jobs. "He adored the children. Whenever he could, he would call, saying 'I love you' and 'I worry about you.'"
They are among thousands of Ukrainians desperately seeking news of loved ones who have disappeared in the two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion began. According to Ukraine’s National Police, more than 30,000 people have been reported missing in the last 24 months.
Iryna Reva, 59, waits for her son Vladyslav at her apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 9, 2024. Vladyslav Reva, 25, a Ukrainian soldier with the 72nd Mechanized Brigade went missing during fighting against Russian forces near Vuhlehirsk Power Station in the Donetsk region on July 24, 2022. Iryna's son-in-law, Oleksandr Dygalo, who served in the 95th brigade has also disappeared. He was last seen on March 12, 2023 in Donetsk region.
The International Committee of the Red Cross says since February 2022 its team has been contacted more than 100,000 times by families searching for their loved ones.
Maria Lezhnova, 52, sits surrounded by her pets as she waits for her son Hryhorii inside her apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 15, 2024. Hryhorii Polevyi, 29, a military medic with the 120th Battalion went missing at the frontline in Mayorsk, Donetsk region, on November 4, 2022. Along with him, ten other servicemen disappeared. The day before he vanished, he sent a message to his mother saying simply: "Love you very much, I will go without connection for some time."
Larysa, 31, with her 4-year-old daughter, Olha, await the return of her husband Mykola at their apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 14, 2024. Mykola, a Ukrainian serviceman with the 30th Mechanized Brigade went missing during fighting at the frontline in Ozarianivka, Donetsk region on Nov. 2, 2022. Ukrainian forces later reclaimed the positions, finding his armored vest, phone, and military ID card. "My husband was taken captive by Wagner forces, but I don't know anything about his fate or whereabouts," Larysa said, her voice heavy with uncertainty. "On Oct. 22, 2022, we had our last meeting. He came to Kyiv to drive a car to the frontline. That day, he told me that a few days before some guys from his unit were captured. With a sinking heart, I asked him to share his phone's live location, to which he replied that it wouldn't make any sense. 'And where will I look for you then?' I jokingly asked. 'It'll be as it'll be,' he calmly replied, as if already accepted what was to come in a week," Larysa recounted, reflecting on their final encounter.
Olena Diachenko, 38, along with her children Maksym, 13, Margaryta, 10, and Myroslava, 5, await the return of husband and father Oleksandr in Mala Ofirna, Kyiv region, on Feb. 14, 2024. Oleksandr Diachenko, 37, serviceman of the 30th Mechanized Brigade missed during fighting at the frontline in Bohdanivka, Donetsk region, on March 4, 2023. "Children don't wish for presents on their birthdays; they wish for their father to come back," Olena said.
Tetiana, 60, with her son Klim Khvostenko, 35, await the return of her husband in their rented apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 13, 2024. Oleh Khvostenko, 62, a civilian, went missing after being arrested by Russian military police in Dniprorudne, Zaporizhzhia region on July 2, 2022. Since then, the family has struggled to obtain information about his fate and whereabouts.
Valentyna Yeremenko, 95, sits in her daughter's home while waiting for the return of her husband Mykola in Bucha, Kyiv region, on Feb. 11, 2024. Mykola Yeremenko, 96, a veteran of World War II, went missing during the Russian occupation of Irpin, Kyiv region on March 19, 2022. Valentyna, who celebrated their 70-year wedding anniversary with Mykola just a few years ago, longs for his return. "We haven't heard anything about Mykola, only the tear-off calendar on the wall remains, and March 19 is the last day a leaf was torn off… that's when he vanished," said Valentyna's daughter Liudmila Yeremenko reflecting on his disappearance. This is not the only tragedy in Valentyna's family. During the Russian occupation in March 2022, a sniper killed her granddaughter Tetiana Yeremenko. She was 47 years old.
Natalia, 35, waits for her missing husband Yuriy at her apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 8, 2024. Yuriy, 39, a Ukrainian serviceman, disappeared during fighting against Russian forces on Aug. 14, 2022 near Bakhmut, Donetsk region. He joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the beginning of the full scale invasion, took part in defending the Kyiv region and was later sent to fight in the east. "He loves his family, his son, and truly loves Ukraine," Natalia said, recalling her beloved husband.
Svitlana Klymenko, 53, and her son Viacheslav, 31, wait for her husband at her apartment in Ivankiv, Kyiv region on Feb. 10, 2024. Oleh Klymenko, who worked as an emergency medical responder went missing on March 6, 2022 during the Russian occupation of Ivankiv. He vanished on his way home from work and since then his family have had no news of his whereabouts. "On the tenth day of the occupation, he went home to change clothes, to keep functioning normally, to continue working, but he didn't return to work. This happened in broad daylight," Viacheslav said. The war took the family's father but also a son Mykola, who was killed during the fighting against Russian forces in the besieged city of Mariupol in March 2022.
Liubov Opanasenko, 72, sits at home waiting for the return of her husband Oleksandr in Svitilna, Kyiv region, Ukraine on Feb. 11, 2024. A local resident Oleksandr, 71, chose to remain behind when his wife and son evacuated. He disappeared on March 9, 2022, during the Russian occupation of Svitilna. He was taken from his home by Russian forces and no one has seen him since. "Hope is all that's left, but it's there. Whenever someone returns from captivity, I immediately look to see if it's him," Liubov said.
Daryna Herasymenko, 26, waits for her missing husband Serhii in an apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 13, 2024. Serhii Herasymenko, 29, a Ukrainian serviceman with the 46th Separate Air Assault Brigade disappeared during fighting at the frontline near Bakhmut, Donetsk region on Dec. 10, 2022. "Mentally, I am still in December (2022)," said Daryna, who has been with Serhii for seven years. "All I know is that they went on the assault, and that's it," she added.
Nina Kovalyk, 47, sits in her apartment while she waits for the return of her brother Andrii in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 11, 2024. Andrii, 48, a Ukrainian serviceman from the Territorial Defense disappeared during the fighting against Russian forces in Mariupol on March 21, 2022. His wife and two children were forced to evacuate from Mariupol through Russia and Belarus and they currently live as refugees in Poland. "He got surrounded with his battalion, no one made it out… they all disappeared without a trace," Nina says. According to an investigation's findings, Andrii's whereabouts, along with his battalion remain unknown.
Hanna Rudak, 27, sits in her rented apartment while waiting for the return of her husband Andrii in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 12, 2024. Andrii Rudak, 28, a Ukrainian serviceman with the 30th Mechanized Brigade disappeared during the fighting against Wagner forces at the frontline in Odradivka, Donetsk region on Oct. 15, 2022. Hanna often dreams of Andrii returning to her alive. "Disappearance without a trace is a huge problem. You look at Russian Telegram channels, there lies a body, unrecognizable, and you scrutinize it by the uniform, by the hands, by the hair, hoping it's not him," Hanna says of her search for Andrii.
Former wife Olha, 35, father Arthur, 64, mother Sofia, 69, and daughter Eva, 7, await the return of Rostyslav at their apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 14, 2024. Rostyslav, 40, a serviceman with the 30th Mechanized Brigade went missing during fighting at the frontline in Mykolaivka Druha, Donetsk region, Ukraine on Sept. 13, 2022. "After some time, I found his military ID on one of the Russian telegram channels. I still believe that he is alive," said Olha.
Nina Tkachenko, 47, sits with her daughter Polina, 7, awaiting the return of her husband Vasyl at their rented apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 15, 2024. Vasyl Yurchuk, 39, a Ukrainian serviceman with the 77th Air Assault Brigade went missing during an evacuation operation of an injured comrade at the frontline in Paraskoviivka, Donetsk region, on Jan. 27, 2023. Before the full-scale invasion he was a former private businessman selling windows.
