"US Military Veteran Allegedly Joins Russian Army, Faces Child Exploitation Charges"

A U.S. Air Force veteran facing charges of possessing explicit images of a child reportedly fled to Russia and joined the Russian army, as shown in videos and confirmed by his lawyer. Wilmer Puello-Mota, who was expected to plead guilty in Rhode Island, is seen in footage expressing support for Russia's war against Ukraine. The U.S. State Department has no way to confirm his whereabouts, and the Rhode Island attorney general's office received images purporting to show Puello-Mota in Ukraine and Russia. His lawyer reached a deal for him to plead guilty to all charges in exchange for an 18-month prison sentence.