Former Olympian Ryan Wedding Wanted for Witness Murder, Drug Trafficking; $15 Million Reward Offered
Former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding is wanted for orchestrating a federal witness's murder and leading a multi-national drug trafficking network. Authorities offer a $15 million reward for his capture.
Overview
- Former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding is wanted for orchestrating the murder of a federal witness and leading a violent, prolific multi-national drug trafficking organization.
- Wedding faces charges including murder, witness tampering, intimidation, money laundering, and drug trafficking, stemming from a federal indictment unsealed in California.
- He is accused of leading a drug ring responsible for importing approximately 60 metric tons of cocaine annually into the U.S. from Mexico, generating around $1 billion in profits.
- The federal witness was set to testify against Wedding in a drug trafficking case, with the murder allegedly ordered in Colombia.
- Authorities, including the U.S. Department of State and FBI, are offering up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest of former Olympian Ryan Wedding.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by emphasizing the dramatic fall of an "Olympic snowboarder" into a "drug kingpin," using highly evaluative language and exclusively featuring law enforcement perspectives. They highlight the alleged violence and scale of his operation, portraying him as an exceptionally dangerous criminal akin to notorious drug lords, without presenting alternative viewpoints.
"The U.S. Department of Justice has unsealed a federal grand jury indictment that charges former Olympian Ryan Wedding with ordering the murder of a federal witness in January 2025."
CBS News"Ryan Wedding, Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug kingpin, faces new charges related to the murder of a federal witness in the case against him."
NBC News"Authorities say Wedding and his co-conspirators used a Canadian website called “the Dirty News” to post a photograph of the witness so he could be identified and killed."
Associated Press"Wedding is now newly charged in connection with the murder of a witness that occurred in January at a restaurant in Colombia, according to U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Los Angeles Bill Essayli."
ABC News"Ryan James Wedding, 44, is wanted by the FBI in connection to a "transnational criminal enterprise," Attorney General Pam Bondi announced, calling the Canadian national a top threat to the United States and "one of the most prolific and violent drug trafficking organizers in the world.""
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FAQ
Ryan Wedding competed in the men's parallel giant slalom snowboarding event at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, where he finished 24th.
Ryan Wedding faces charges including murder, witness tampering, intimidation, money laundering, and drug trafficking, stemming from a federal indictment in California.
Wedding is accused of leading a drug ring that imported approximately 60 metric tons of cocaine annually into the U.S. from Mexico, generating about $1 billion in profits.
The federal witness was set to testify against Wedding in a drug trafficking case, and the murder was allegedly ordered in Colombia.
Authorities, including the U.S. Department of State and FBI, are offering up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest of Ryan Wedding.
History
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9 articles