Ryan Wedding, the Canadian former Olympic snowboarder now accused of leading a major international cocaine distribution network and orchestrating multiple murders, made his first court appearance on Monday in Santa Ana, southern California. The 44-year-old athlete-turned-alleged kingpin entered a plea of not guilty to a staggering 17 felony charges detailed across two separate indictments.
From Olympic Slopes to Alleged Criminal Empire
Authorities claim that after his competitive snowboarding career concluded, Wedding dramatically "turned to a life of crime" as a narcotics trafficker. Prosecutors allege he masterminded an organization that systematically transported cocaine from South America into both the United States and Canada, with the operation reportedly generating more than $1 billion annually.
Serious Charges and International Manhunt
The comprehensive list of charges against Wedding includes drug trafficking, conspiracy to commit murder, witness tampering, and money laundering. Particularly disturbing are allegations that he directed several "drug-related" murders, including the 2023 killings of two family members in Ontario, a 2024 murder in Canada over an unpaid drug debt, and the January 2025 murder of an associate and FBI witness in Colombia.
Wedding's capture followed an intensive international manhunt involving both the FBI and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, with authorities offering a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his arrest. Mexican authorities announced last week that Wedding had been taken into custody after reportedly surrendering at the US embassy in Mexico, though his defense attorney Anthony Colombo later contradicted this account, telling reporters his client was "apprehended" rather than surrendering voluntarily.
High-Profile Comparisons and Legal Proceedings
At a recent press conference, FBI Director Kash Patel drew dramatic comparisons between Wedding and infamous drug lords Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman and Pablo Escobar, describing the former Olympian as "the largest narco-trafficker in modern times." Patel asserted that Wedding and his organization, allegedly working with Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, had "poured narcotics into the streets of North America" with devastating consequences.
However, some security experts have expressed skepticism about these comparisons. Stephen Woodman, a security analyst based in Guadalajara, Mexico, noted there's "no indication [Wedding] controls territory, nor that he's at the head of an armed militia, nor that he's a major player politically."
During Monday's arraignment before US Magistrate Judge John D. Early, Wedding was ordered to remain jailed without bond. His attorney Colombo emphasized to reporters that "the indictments are not evidence, they're just an accusation," adding that his client remained in "good spirits" and was "mentally tough" despite the serious allegations.
The case continues with the next court date scheduled for 11 February, according to a statement from the US attorney's office for the central district of California. The proceedings will determine whether the former Olympic athlete faces trial on charges that could result in life imprisonment if convicted.
