Federal authorities recently shared a new photo of Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder now wanted for allegedly leading a violent drug trafficking group. The FBI’s Los Angeles field office believes this picture was taken in Mexico over the summer.
Wedding is accused of managing a drug operation that smuggles about 60 metric tons of cocaine annually into Los Angeles using semitrucks from Mexico. Attorney General Pam Bondi noted that this organization is among the most violent in the world, with Wedding regarded as the top cocaine distributor in Canada. As part of their efforts to apprehend him, the State Department has offered a reward of $15 million for information leading to his capture.
In September 2024, Wedding faced new charges, including attempted murder. He was implicated in the death of a federal witness who was about to testify against him. Authorities allege he put a bounty on the witness, hoping that killing him would terminate the charges against him and his drug trafficking operations.
Reports suggest that Wedding used a Canadian website to track down the witness and his wife. Tragically, the witness was killed at a restaurant before he could provide his testimony. Currently, Wedding is believed to be hiding in Mexico, with the FBI suspecting he is being shielded by a cartel.
Interestingly, this case has drawn attention on social media, with users expressing shock that a former Olympian has turned to such a dangerous lifestyle. It highlights a disturbing trend where former athletes find themselves on the wrong side of the law. An increasing number of athletes have faced criminal charges over the years, suggesting that fame does not always shield individuals from poor choices.
As of now, Wedding remains one of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, and the pursuit to bring him to justice continues. For up-to-date information, you can visit the FBI’s official page here.
