A former American city council member who is wanted in the United States on child pornography charges appears to have fled to Russia and joined the Russian military, according to footage shared by regional authorities in the northern Khanty-Mansi autonomous district.

Wilmer Puello-Mota, former city councilor of Holyoke, Massachusetts, reportedly left the United States on Jan. 7 in violation of court orders while being tried in Rhode Island for possession of child pornography.

The Massachusetts-based newspaper The Republican reported last month that people who know Puello-Mota had recognized his voice in a short video showing the capture of the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka in February.

  • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    I mean, if he doesn’t get special treatment it’s a death sentence…

    But I’m betting Russia keeps him safe as a propaganda piece

    • GregorGizeh@lemmy.zip
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      7 months ago

      As a signal to the world that even the worst people are welcome in fascist russia?

      I dont see what other propaganda this guy could possibly be involved in, and western media orgs won’t touch a pedophile with a ten foot pole.

      • fuego@lemmy.ca
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        7 months ago

        The unbiased signal would be “if you’re dissatisfied with your current nation, Russia may take you in.”

        I dont see what other propaganda this guy could possibly be involved in

        Probably because you’re biased from spending too much time on these forums.

        • GregorGizeh@lemmy.zip
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          7 months ago

          Nobody but the absolute scum of the earth will be enticed by the news that Russia took in a pedophile because he was american and wanted to avoid prison.

        • Sanctus@lemmy.world
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          7 months ago

          Fleeing CSAM charges is not even close to “dissatisfied with your current nation.”

          He is fleeing justice from harming children. There doesn’t need to be much propaganda here to convince moral people that this individual is amoral. Moral people don’t possess CSAM.

          I sincerely hope you bite your tongue the next time it attempts to form words.

          • Danquebec@sh.itjust.works
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            7 months ago

            The word is “immoral”. Amoral is outside morality. Like, a rock is amoral. Also, bees are amoral.