More Indictments for Fugitive Athlete Turned Alleged Kingpin
Federal officials have announced a new wave of charges against former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan James Wedding, who is accused of running a sprawling, violent international drug trafficking organization.
At a press conference Wednesday, US Attorney General Pam Bondi said that prosecutors have added murder, witness tampering, money laundering, and expanded drug trafficking charges to the case, deepening the legal pressure on the fugitive athlete.
One of the most serious allegations involves the killing of a federal witness in Colombia, who was cooperating with the US government. “Protecting federal witnesses is fundamental to the rule of law,” Bondi said.
Manhunt Intensifies as Reward Climbs to $15 Million
Wedding has been on the run for more than a year and is currently listed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives. Authorities believe he is hiding in Mexico.
The State Department has now increased its reward for information leading to his capture from $10 million to $15 million, signaling the urgency of the international search.
Wedding was first charged in 2024 with conspiring to distribute cocaine and murder.
Alleged Transnational Network Linked to Multiple Killings
According to federal investigators, Wedding’s criminal organization trafficked large quantities of cocaine from Colombia, through Mexico, and into the United States and Canada.
Officials say the group has been linked to at least four murders, including the killings of two family members in Canada who were mistakenly targeted over a stolen drug shipment.
He also faces additional trafficking charges in Canada.
Authorities in the US, Mexico, Colombia, and Canada have arrested more than a dozen individuals tied to the case, but Wedding remains at large.
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