US law enforcement officials on Wednesday (November 19) unsealed an indictment against former Olympic snowboarder Ryan James Wedding, charging the 44-year-old Canadian with murder, money laundering, drug trafficking and involvement in a transnational criminal enterprise.
Wedding is now wanted by the FBI and has been placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list, with officials calling him one of the most dangerous narcotics traffickers operating today.
“Ryan James Wedding is one of the most prolific and violent drug traffickers in the world,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a joint announcement in Washington, DC, along with FBI Director Kash Patel.
“The Greatest Threat to the United States”
Bondi described Wedding as a “major threat to the United States” and accused him of running a murderous global operation involving cocaine, fentanyl and other illegal drugs.
“He is responsible for a narco-terrorist program that we haven’t seen in a long time,” Patel added. “You can’t be a drug dealer and avoid the law.
Massive drug network and cartel ties
Authorities say Wedding is currently Canada’s largest cocaine distributor, importing about 60 metric tons of cocaine into the U.S. annually and making an estimated $1 billion a year.
Bondi said Wedding works closely with the Mexico-based Sinaloa cartel, “which protects him carefully” and is expanding its network across North America.
“Wedding went from crushing powder on the slopes at the Olympics to distributing powdered cocaine on the streets of American cities and in his native Canada,” said Akil Davis, deputy director of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office.
Murder of a federal witness
Prosecutors also accused Wedding of ordering the murder of a US federal witness who was shot dead in a Medellin, Colombia restaurant before he could testify against the former athlete.
A separate $2 million reward is being offered for information leading to those responsible for the killing.
A $15 million reward for his capture
The FBI offered a record $15 million reward for information leading to Wedding’s arrest — one of the largest rewards ever offered to a fugitive linked to narcotics trafficking.
Treasury Assistant Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley said the U.S. is now trying to strangle the financial networks that support him.
“Terasury is working with the FBI and DOJ to cut Wedding and his criminal associates out of the American financial system,” Hurley said. “Our goal is simple: make it harder for criminals like this to profit from poisoning our communities.”
Millions in cash, crypto back
Bondi said investigators recovered $3.2 million in cryptocurrency and more than $13 million in physical assets during the multi-year investigation. So far, more than 35 people have been charged in connection with the crime syndicate.
‘We will not sit idle’
Bondi vowed relentless pursuit.
“Drugs are killing our children, our friends, our relatives – and this guy is responsible for a tremendous amount of that horror. We will not stand idly by,” she said. “The Department of Justice will use every tool available to catch these monsters.”
