Former Olympic Snowboarder Faces Murder Charges Linked to Drug Trafficking

Wed Nov 19 2025 22:50:57 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, is being charged with the murder of a federal witness amid allegations of running an extensive drug trafficking network. Authorities are seeking his capture as he remains a fugitive.

Ryan Wedding, wanted for orchestrating a multi-national drug trafficking operation, faces additional murder charges in the killing of a federal witness in Colombia. Authorities have unsealed an indictment that reveals the use of a Canadian website to identify the victim, leading to his assassination aimed at preventing Wedding's extradition to the U.S. The FBI is offering a $15 million reward for his capture, while the prosecutor emphasizes the determination of law enforcement to seek justice against international drug criminals.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder for Canada, is now facing serious legal repercussions as he is linked to the murder of a federal witness in connection with his alleged role in a multi-national drug trafficking network. The U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the new charges against Wedding on Wednesday, after a federal indictment was unsealed in California.

Federal investigators claim that Wedding orchestrated the killing of the witness earlier this year in Colombia, motivated by the desire to escape potential extradition to the United States. Following the indictment, ten co-defendants have already been arrested as part of the ongoing investigation.

Currently at large, Wedding is rumored to be residing in Mexico under the protection of the infamous Sinaloa cartel. Authorities say he has been instrumental in directing operations that reportedly transport around 60 tons of cocaine annually, utilizing long-haul semi-trucks to smuggle narcotics between Colombia, Mexico, and North America.

Bondi stressed the seriousness of the charges, stating, “Whether you are a street-level drug dealer or an international drug kingpin, we are coming for you. We will find you and you will be accountable and held to justice for your crimes.”

The U.S. government has placed Wedding on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list, offering a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his capture. His aliases include “El Jefe,” “Public Enemy,” and “James Conrad King,” highlighting his extensive criminal involvement.

In a harrowing detail of the case, authorities revealed that Wedding and his associates allegedly used a Canadian website called “the Dirty News” to post a recognizable photograph of the witness, making him an easy target. The witness was subsequently murdered in a Medellín restaurant, executed in a way that underscored the violent nature of the operation.

With Wedding’s actions believed to stem from a misguided hope that eliminating the witness would lead to the dismissal of his criminal charges, federal prosecutor Bill Essayli condemned the act, stating, “He was wrong.” The implications of this case extend further, with the government also offering up to $2 million for information leading to the apprehension of others involved in the witness's death.