(Thechieftainspear) – A former Olympic snowboarder is now one of the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitives, accused of running an extensive drug smuggling ring and ordering multiple murders to protect his criminal empire.
From Olympian to International Fugitive
Ryan Wedding, a Canadian national who once competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics in snowboard slalom, is now facing federal charges for his alleged role in a large-scale cocaine trafficking operation that spanned North America. The FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office officially added him to its Top 10 Most Wanted list, calling him a serious threat due to his involvement in violent crimes linked to the drug trade.
According to investigators, Wedding, 43, oversaw a high-volume cocaine distribution network that transported the drug from Colombia through Mexico, eventually funneling it into Los Angeles and Canada. His organization allegedly used extreme violence, including ordering assassinations, to maintain power.
Murder Allegations and Criminal Network
Authorities say Wedding, known by aliases such as “El Jefe,” “Giant,” and “Public Enemy,” was behind multiple murder plots.
- In 2023, he allegedly ordered the killings of two family members in Ontario, Canada, over a stolen drug shipment. One of the targets survived the attack.
- In May 2024, he is accused of orchestrating another assassination tied to a drug debt.
- In April 2024, his associates reportedly carried out additional killings in Canada to maintain control of the operation.
Federal Indictment and Second-in-Command Arrested
Wedding and his alleged right-hand man, Andrew Clark, 34, were indicted in June 2024 in Los Angeles on charges of running a criminal enterprise, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and multiple murder counts.
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Clark was arrested in Mexico last year and was recently extradited to the U.S. to face prosecution. Court documents reveal that their organization stored cocaine in Los Angeles before trucking it into Canada, using violence and intimidation to dominate the trade.
If convicted, Wedding and Clark could face mandatory life sentences for the criminal enterprise charges. Each murder and attempted murder charge carries a minimum 20-year sentence.
Authorities Issue $10 Million Reward for Capture
Wedding is described as 6 feet 3 inches tall, weighing around 240 pounds, with brown hair, blue eyes, and often sporting facial hair. He has used fake names, including “James Conrad King” and “Jesse King.”
Investigators suspect he is hiding in Mexico, though they have not ruled out the possibility that he could be somewhere in the U.S., Canada, or Latin America.
The U.S. government has authorized a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest or conviction. Canadian and Mexican authorities are working alongside the FBI to track him down.
How to Report Tips
Anyone with information can submit tips at tips.fbi.gov, contact their local FBI office, or reach out to U.S. embassies or consulates.
Wedding replaces Alexis Flores on the FBI’s Top 10 Most Wanted list, although Flores remains on the broader Most Wanted list for his alleged role in the 2000 kidnapping and murder of a 5-year-old girl in Philadelphia.
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