Ryan Wedding Facing Serious Charges with Increased Reward

Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding is in deep trouble, as federal authorities have brought additional charges against him for witness tampering, intimidation, murder, money laundering, and drug trafficking. As of Wednesday, the reward for his capture has jumped to $15 million.

The 44-year-old and 14 others are implicated in the murder of a witness who was killed at a restaurant in Colombia back in January 2025. It is alleged that Wedding put a bounty on this victim, thinking that removing her could help him shake off charges tied to him and the drug operations he led.

Wedding is currently on the FBI’s top 10 most wanted criminals list. Officials describe him as “an extremely violent criminal” and suggest he may be responsible for several murders abroad.

“You can’t be a drug lord and think you can evade justice,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Ryan Wedding resembles a modern-day Pablo Escobar or ‘El Chapo’ Guzman. The Department of Justice and FBI are committed to working with international partners to ensure he faces justice.”

Patel emphasized that anyone who knows anything about Wedding’s location should come forward.

Authorities also shut down a website called “The Dirty News,” which was reportedly used to post details and images related to the murder case, making it a platform for inciting violence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Esseri stated, “Your days are numbered. Our investigators will persistently pursue you until you are brought to justice in the United States.”

Wedding is accused of trafficking large quantities of cocaine through Colombia and Mexico for distribution in the U.S. and Canada, while hiding his wealth through cryptocurrencies. The FBI claims he has ordered numerous murders throughout North America as well as Central and South America.

Interestingly, Wedding didn’t qualify for the 1998 Olympics, but he did compete in Salt Lake City in 2002, finishing 24th in the men’s parallel giant slalom. His only Olympic participation was marred by earlier connections to drug activities.

His criminal history stretches back to 2006 when he and another snowboarder were tied to a grow operation in British Columbia. While 6,800 marijuana plants were seized, no charges followed. In 2009, Wedding was arrested while attempting to purchase a large amount of cocaine in California; he subsequently served a prison sentence and forfeited over $121,000 linked to his drug activities.

In 2015, he faced more drug charges in Nova Scotia but continued to evade law enforcement. Reports suggest that he may have connections with the Sinaloa cartel and resumed trafficking shortly after his release. An arrest warrant was first issued in September 2024.

Wedding, also known by various aliases like “El Jefe” and “Public Enemy,” is believed to have moved over $1 billion worth of cocaine. His co-defendant, Andrew Clark, who was detained in October 2024, is accused of orchestrating a retaliatory murder involving an Ontario family.

The allegations against Wedding include involvement in two murder cases linked to drug disputes, and the charges carry serious consequences, with a life sentence at stake.