From Olympic Snowboarder to Alleged Kingpin: The Ryan James Wedding Case

Ryan James Wedding, once an Olympic snowboarder for Canada, is now the subject of a sweeping U.S. indictment that accuses him of running a violent, transnational cocaine-trafficking organization. Federal officials say Wedding transformed from an athlete into an alleged cartel leader responsible for murders, money laundering and large-scale drug shipments—charges he denies until proven in court.

Early life and Olympic background

Wedding was born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, a region known for its outdoor sports. He competed for Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, finishing 24th in the parallel giant slalom. Reports indicate he came from a well-off family and learned to snowboard at a family-owned ski resort.

2008 arrest, conviction and brief remorse

In 2008, federal authorities say Wedding traveled to San Diego to buy cocaine; the seller was an undercover agent. He was convicted in 2009 of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. At his 2010 sentencing Wedding apologized for his actions and expressed remorse, and the judge imposed a 48-month federal sentence that, with credit for time served, led to his release in December 2011.

Alleged escalation to cartel leadership

According to a recent indictment unsealed by U.S. authorities, Wedding’s remorse was short-lived. Prosecutors allege that after his release he built a sophisticated trafficking network that moved cocaine from Colombia through Mexico and into the United States and Canada. The indictment depicts an organization that used boats and aircraft to bring cocaine into Mexico, semitrucks to move shipments across the border into Southern California, and a distribution network that reached multiple U.S. states and Canada.

Charges, scale and violent tactics

Wedding is now charged with murder, witness tampering, money laundering and large-scale drug trafficking. U.S. officials have alleged his organization imported enormous quantities of cocaine—claims that include an assertion by the Department of Justice that the network was responsible for importing roughly 60 metric tons of cocaine a year into the Los Angeles area. Authorities also say the group used extreme violence to maintain control and retaliate against rivals.

“He controls one of the most prolific and violent drug-trafficking organizations in this world,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said at a press conference announcing a reward for information leading to his arrest.

Alleged hits, associates and international reach

Prosecutors say Wedding ordered hits on rivals and on witnesses cooperating with law enforcement; one witness was reportedly shot and killed in Medellín before testifying. U.S. authorities have named several associates in filings: a Mexican protector known as Edgar Aaron Vazquez Alvarado (nicknamed “the General”), Wedding’s wife, Miryam Andrea Castillo Moreno, who is accused of laundering money and assisting in violent acts, and a Canadian lawyer arrested on allegations of providing illicit services to the organization.

Where authorities say he is now—and how the public can help

Federal officials believe Wedding is hiding in Mexico and may be protected by cartel allies. The U.S. announced a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest or conviction and asked anyone with credible tips to come forward to the appropriate law enforcement authority. As with all defendants, Wedding is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Key points

• Ryan James Wedding is accused but not convicted of operating a violent international drug network.
• He was previously convicted in 2009 of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and released from federal custody in 2011.
• Federal indictments allege large-scale trafficking, murder-for-hire, witness tampering and money laundering.
• A $15 million reward has been offered for information leading to his arrest.

Note: All allegations described here are based on charges and public statements from law enforcement and prosecutors. The accused is entitled to legal due process.