From Olympic Athlete to International Fugitive
US authorities have levelled shocking new charges against a fugitive former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, accusing him of orchestrating the murder of a witness who was prepared to testify against him. Attorney General Pam Bondi stood beside a wanted poster for Ryan James Wedding during a news conference at the Department of Justice in Washington DC, delivering a stark warning to the alleged drug kingpin.
A Ruthless Organisation Uncovered
According to a newly unsealed indictment, Wedding—also known by the aliases "El Jefe," "Giant," and "Public Enemy"—is accused of tracking down a witness in Colombia who was subsequently murdered before he could give evidence. The indictment portrays Wedding as the leader of what Bondi described as "one of the most prolific and violent drug-trafficking organizations" operating globally.
Bill Essayli, First Assistant US Attorney for the Central District of California, revealed that an Ontario lawyer, Deepak Paradkar, was among those recently arrested in an "international takedown." Paradkar allegedly advised Wedding to murder the FBI witness, Jonathan Acebedo-Garcia, a Canadian citizen who was shot dead in a Medellín restaurant in January. Essayli stated that Paradkar told Wedding, "If you kill this witness, the case will be dismissed."
A $15 Million Manhunt and International Sanctions
FBI Director Kash Patel did not mince words when characterising the suspect, declaring, "Make no mistake about it: Ryan Wedding is a modern-day iteration of Pablo Escobar. He's a modern day iteration of El Chapo Guzmán." Reflecting the seriousness of the manhunt, the US State Department has increased its reward for information leading to Wedding's capture and conviction from $10 million to $15 million.
The 43-year-old fugitive, who grew up in Thunder Bay, Ontario, represented Team Canada at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games, finishing 24th in the parallel giant slalom. His descent into crime began years later. In 2010, he was convicted of drug trafficking after attempting to buy cocaine from a US government agent and served a four-year prison sentence.
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme, also present at the press conference, confirmed that seven Canadians have been arrested in connection with the investigation. He estimated that Wedding's criminal organisation likely generates more than $1 billion per year. In a significant financial move, the US Treasury Department announced sanctions against Wedding and nine other individuals linked to his operation.
The international dragnet continues as authorities vow to bring the former athlete to justice for his alleged transformation from Olympic hopeful to a central figure in a violent transnational narcotics empire.
