Ryan Wedding, Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug kingpin, charged in death of federal witness
A former Olympic snowboarder, who authorities say led one of the world’s most violent drug trafficking organizations, faces new charges related to the murder of a federal witness in the case against him.
Officials said Ryan James Wedding “placed a bounty” on the witness’s head “in the mistaken belief that the victim’s death would result in criminal charges against him and his international drug trafficking network being dropped.” He allegedly used a Canadian website to post images of the witness and his wife to help locate him, officials said at a news conference Wednesday.
The witness was shot at a restaurant before he could testify against Wedding. In an indictment unsealed Wednesday, Wedding was charged with murder, witness tampering and intimidation, money laundering and drug trafficking.
The new indictment also includes several other people, including a Canadian lawyer, who authorities say were involved in the killing.
The U.S. State Department increased its reward from $10 million to $15 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Wedding, who is on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.
“You can’t become a drug lord and escape the law,” FBI Director Kash Patel said at the news conference. “Make no mistake, Ryan Wedding is a modern iteration of Pablo Escobar; he is a modern iteration of El Chapo Guzman. … He will not escape justice.”
Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, said officials believed he was being protected by the cartel and others in Mexico.
“Please understand that he can change his hair color, his appearance and do anything to avoid being captured,” he said.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said Wedding’s organization was responsible for importing about 60 tons of cocaine a year into Los Angeles via tractor-trailers from Mexico.
“He controls one of the most prolific and violent drug trafficking organizations in the world,” she said. “He is currently the largest distributor of cocaine in Canada.”
During the investigation, Bondi said more than 35 people were charged, numerous weapons were seized, approximately $3.2 million in cryptocurrencies were recovered, and more than $13 million in physical assets were confiscated.
According to the FBI, Wedding’s organization often resorted to violence, including orchestrating the murder of several people.
Wedding, who represented Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, was charged in a September 2024 indictment, which superseded attempted murder and other charges.
