A former Olympic snowboarder, who officials say runs one of the most violent drug-trafficking organizations in the world, faces new charges related to the murder of a federal witness in the case against him.
Officials said Ryan James Wedding “placed a bounty” on the witness’ head “in the erroneous belief that the victim’s death would result in the dismissal of criminal charges against him and his international drug trafficking ring.” He is alleged to have used a Canadian website to post images of the witness and his wife to locate him, officials said at a news conference Wednesday.
The witness was fatally shot at a restaurant before he could testify against Wedding. In an indictment unsealed Wednesday, Wedding was charged with murder, witness tampering and intimidation, money laundering and drug trafficking.
The new indictment also addresses several other people, including a Canadian lawyer, who officials say were involved in the murder.
The State Department increased its reward from $10 million to $15 million for information that leads to the arrest and/or conviction of Wedding, who is on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.
“You do not get to be a drug kingpin and evade the law,” FBI Director Kash Patel said at the news conference. “Make no mistake about it, Ryan Wedding is a modern-day iteration of Pablo Escobar; he’s a modern iteration of El Chapo Guzmán. ... He will not evade justice.”
Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, said officials believe he’s being protected by the cartel and others in Mexico.
“Please understand that he might change his hair color, his appearance, and do anything to avoid capture,” he said.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said Wedding's organization is responsible for importing about 60 metric tons of cocaine a year into Los Angeles via semitrucks from Mexico.
“He controls one of the most prolific and violent drug-trafficking organizations in this world,” she said. “He is currently the largest distributor of cocaine in Canada.”
Over the course of the investigation, Bondi said, more than 35 people have been indicted, numerous weapons have been seized, about $3.2 million in cryptocurrency has been recovered, and over $13 million in physical assets have been confiscated.
According to the FBI, Wedding’s organization often resorted to violence, including orchestrating the murders of multiple people.
Wedding, who represented Canada in the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2002, was charged in a September 2024 superseding indictment with attempted murder and other counts.
