Former Olympic snowboarder Ryan James Wedding is accused of leading a drug trafficking organization and ordering killings, federal prosecutors announced on Thursday (October 17) via the Los Angeles Times.
Wedding, 43, who represented Canada and finished 24th in the men's parallel giant slalom at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, is wanted on charges leading "a transnational organized crime group that engaged in cocaine trafficking and murder, including of innocent civilians,” according to U.S. Atty. for the Central District of California Martin Estrada during a press conference on Thursday.
“He chose to become a major drug trafficker and a killer,” Estrada said.
“An Olympic athlete-turned-druglord is now charged with leading a transnational organized crime group that engaged in cocaine trafficking and murder, including of innocent civilians,” he added.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Krysti Hawkins confirmed that Wedding "is still at large" during the news conference.
Wedding was reported to have led the drug trafficking organization from 2011 to 2024 with Andrew Clark, who was arrested earlier this month in Mexico, serving as his second-in-command. The duo reportedly moved 60 tons of cocaine annually during what was described as an "extremely prolific" enterprise.
“They were killers. Anyone who got in there way they would target with violence, including murder,” Estrada said.
The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward in relation to information leading to Wedding's arrest.