Los Angeles, California – After competing in the 2002 Olympics, Ryan James Wedding has made a name for himself, but not in a good way.
Yesterday, the FBI announced that the former Canadian Olympic snowboarder is being charged with the following: “Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances; Conspiracy to Export Cocaine; Continuing Criminal Enterprise; Murder in Connection with a Continuing Criminal Enterprise and Drug Crime; Attempt to Commit Murder in Connection with a Continuing Criminal Enterprise and Drug Crime.”
Ultimately, the FBI is accusing him of running a comprehensive drug trafficking enterprise and ordering the killings of those who he considered a threat. A federal arrest warrant was issued on September 17th. He’s one of sixteen individuals who’s being charged with being a part of this drug ring, twelve of which are already in custody.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Ryan was the head of a billion-dollar enterprise that moved 60 tons of Cocaine per year. They moved the cocaine from Colombia, through Latin America, and into California. After that, it was shipped across the U.S. and Canada. Ryan is also being accused of ordering the killings of four people, two of which were the result of mistaken identity. Wedding is known by various nicknames, like “El Jefe” and “Public Enemy.”
“An Olympic athlete-turned-druglord is now charged with leading a transnational organized crime group that engaged in cocaine trafficking and murder, including of innocent civilians,” said Martin Estrada, who’s the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California.
This is a pretty shocking twist from his original career path. He competed in the 2002 Olympics in parallel giant slalom, finishing 24th.
Wedding remains on the run, and it is possible that he is in Mexico. If you know anything about Ryan Wedding’s whereabouts, contact the FBI’s Los Angeles office. If you provide accurate information, you could receive up to $50,000.
