Former Olympic Snowboarder Denies Charges in Federal Court Appearance
Ryan Wedding, the 44-year-old former Olympic snowboarder turned alleged international drug kingpin, has entered a plea of not guilty to two federal indictments. The plea came during his initial appearance at the federal courthouse in Santa Ana, California, on Monday, marking a dramatic turn in a case that has spanned multiple continents and involved numerous law enforcement agencies.
International Manhunt Ends with Surrender
The defendant's journey to the courtroom followed a year-long, multi-national pursuit involving authorities from the United States, Mexico, Canada, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic. Wedding ultimately turned himself in at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City last week, after which he was transported to Southern California to face justice. This conclusion came despite the FBI having recently increased its reward for information leading to his capture to a staggering $15 million.
Allegations of a Vast Criminal Enterprise
The charges against Wedding are extraordinarily serious. Federal prosecutors allege he masterminded a billion-dollar multinational drug trafficking operation responsible for smuggling approximately 60 metric tons of cocaine into Southern California each year. Furthermore, he stands accused of orchestrating multiple killings, including three counts of murder. One particularly grave charge involves the death of a federal witness in Colombia who was scheduled to testify against him.
FBI Director Kash Patel has described Wedding's alleged network as engineering a "narco trafficking and narco terrorism program that we have not seen in a long time." The operation reportedly utilized California stash houses and semitrucks to move vast quantities of cocaine and fentanyl across North America. Former Attorney General Pam Bondi previously characterized the organization as "one of the most prolific and violent drug trafficking organizations in the world."
A Fall from Sporting Grace
Wedding's background stands in stark contrast to his alleged crimes. A native of Thunder Bay, Ontario, he rose to become a competitive snowboarder, ultimately representing Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, where he placed 24th in the men's parallel giant slalom. His athletic career has since been overshadowed by a long history with the law, including a prior U.S. conviction for cocaine distribution that resulted in a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence.
Seizures and International Connections
The investigation has uncovered a web of luxury assets allegedly used to conceal Wedding's wealth. Last month, the FBI released photos of a $40 million seizure connected to him, which included 62 motorbikes, a rare $13 million Mercedes CLK-GTR Roadster, two Olympic medals, drugs, artwork, and ammunition. Authorities claim he built a "complex web" of assets involving luxury vehicles, properties, cryptocurrency, and front businesses.
The case also alleges international dimensions, with Wedding accused of partnering with Iranian and Russian cocaine smugglers. He was reportedly under the protection of Mexico's Sinaloa drug cartel for much of the past decade, with Patel drawing comparisons between Wedding and the cartel's imprisoned former leader, Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán.
Violent Crimes and Co-Defendants
The murder charges are tied to several specific incidents. Along with alleged accomplice Andrew Clark, Wedding is accused of ordering the murders of married couple Jagtar and Harbhajan Sidhu in November 2023, 39-year-old Mohammed Zafar in May 2024, and the federal witness in January 2025. The Sidhus' daughter, Jaspreet Kaur Sidhu, survived being shot 13 times during the attack on her parents. Clark was arrested in Mexico in 2024, extradited, and has pleaded not guilty to four murders in Ontario.
Another alleged accomplice, Bianca Canastillo-Madrid, was recently added to the FBI's "Wanted" list on charges related to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and money laundering. Authorities have also suggested there is "some evidence" Wedding underwent cosmetic surgery to alter his appearance and evade capture during his years as a fugitive.
Official Statements and Ongoing Proceedings
Following the arrest, FBI Director Patel credited an "inter-agency-wide effort" led by the U.S. Department of Justice and partners in Mexico. He specifically thanked Mexican authorities and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for their cooperation, and praised U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald D. Johnson for "quarterbacking" the case over the previous year. Patel declined to elaborate further on the investigation, stating a desire to "safeguard" the ongoing proceedings.
With his not guilty plea now entered, Ryan Wedding awaits the next stages of a legal process that will scrutinize one of the most dramatic falls from grace in recent memory, tracing a path from Olympic athlete to the central figure in a sprawling international criminal conspiracy.
