Former Canadian snowboarder Ryan James Wedding competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, representing Canada at the highest level of athletic achievement. While he did not win a medal at the Olympics and finished in the 24th spot, his participation marked a significant achievement in his snowboarding career.
However, his transition from an Olympic athlete to a suspected criminal has taken a sharp swing, stunning the sports world and sparking a debate about how brittle success can be.
What is Ryan James Wedding accused of?
Wedding has recently been charged with a narcotics trafficking scheme worth millions of dollars. Federal officials have charged him with being a major participant in a cocaine distribution organization that is accountable for several killings.
According to the FBI, Wedding and 15 other individuals were involved in the trafficking of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine into the United States, which led to a great deal of violence and fatalities within the drug trade. The trade operated between Mexico, Southern California, and Canada and moved approximately 60 tonnes of cocaine annually.
The details of the allegations are concerning: authorities say Ryan James Wedding was a key player in planning drug shipments and running a network that transported cocaine across state lines; the investigation found that this was a profitable but violent operation, with several murders connected to drug-related conflicts.
On Thursday afternoon (October 17), the Department of Justice unveiled charges against Wedding and 15 other individuals in an indictment, revealing that Wedding has gained notoriety in the drug trafficking community under names like “El Jefe,” “Giant,” and “Public Enemy.”
“Ryan James Wedding is wanted for allegedly running and participating in a transnational drug trafficking operation that routinely shipped hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia, through Mexico and Southern California, to Canada, and other locations in the United States,” according to the FBI. “Additionally, it is alleged that Wedding was involved in orchestrating multiple murders in furtherance of these drug crimes.”
Federal authorities issued an arrest warrant for Wedding in California last month. Investigators noted that the former athlete has also used various aliases, including “James Conrad King” and “Jesse King.”
In light of this, the FBI has announced a $50,000 reward for any tips that could result in the capture and extradition of the 43-year-old.
Authorities are still looking into Wedding's relationships and the wider ramifications of his suspected drug trafficking activities. As the case progresses, more attention is being paid to the more general problems of drug misuse and criminality that often plague sportsmen once they retire.
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This is not the first time Ryan James Wedding has been accused of being associated with drug trafficking. After competing in the Olympics, he was arrested in 2010 for cocaine trafficking and convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. He went to prison but got involved in illegal activities again after being released, even working with the Sinaloa Cartel, known for its notorious leader, El Chapo, per The Associated Press.
According to Chris Leather, a Chief Superintendent with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ryan James Wedding has ongoing drug trafficking charges in Canada from 2015 that still need to be resolved.
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