LOS ANGELES (Thechieftainspear) – A former Canadian Olympic snowboarder is now one of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, accused of running an international drug ring that moved large quantities of cocaine across multiple countries and allegedly ordering several murders.
Ryan “El Jefe” Wedding, 43, once a professional athlete competing in the 2002 Winter Olympics, is now the target of an intense international manhunt, federal officials announced on Thursday in Los Angeles.
From Olympic Snowboarder to Fugitive Drug Kingpin
Wedding, originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario, made his name as a snowboarder before shifting into the world of organized crime, according to the FBI. His alleged drug operation trafficked hundreds of pounds of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico and Southern California, ultimately distributing it in Canada and beyond.
Federal officials say Wedding and his right-hand man, Andrew Clark, 34, were indicted in Los Angeles federal court last June on charges of:
- Operating a large-scale criminal enterprise
- Drug trafficking and distribution
- Murder and attempted murder
Clark was captured in Mexico last October and recently extradited to the United States. However, Wedding remains on the run.
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Millions in Reward Money for Wedding’s Capture
To aid in the fugitive’s capture, the U.S. State Department is offering a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest or conviction. The FBI has added an additional $50,000 reward for his apprehension.
Allegations of Murder and Violence
Court documents detail that Wedding and his organization used deadly force to maintain control. Among the violent acts attributed to him:
- Ordering the Nov. 20, 2023, killings of two family members in Ontario, Canada, after a drug shipment went missing.
- Overseeing a May 18, 2024, murder in response to a drug-related dispute.
- Clark and another associate, Malik Damion Cunningham, 23, are accused of a separate April 1, 2024, homicide in Ontario.
Authorities believe Wedding is hiding in Mexico, though they have not ruled out that he may be in the United States, Canada, Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala, or Costa Rica.
Facing Life in Prison
If captured and convicted, Wedding and Clark could face life in federal prison on criminal enterprise charges, while the murder and drug-related offenses carry sentences ranging from 10 years to life.
Authorities are urging anyone with information on Wedding’s whereabouts to contact law enforcement immediately.
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