The U.S. State Department’s Narcotics Rewards Program is offering up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of former Canadian Olympian Ryan James Wedding, who’s accused of running a transnational drug trafficking operation.
The FBI on Thursday announced that Wedding, 43, was added to its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.
Why It Matters
The list was created in 1950 to publicize dangerous fugitives who might not otherwise merit nationwide attention, according to the FBI. Citizen cooperation has aided in the capture of 163 fugitives on the list.
What To Know
A federal arrest warrant was issued for Wedding in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on September 17, 2024.
The FBI said Wedding should be considered “armed and dangerous.” He is a Canadian citizen but may be residing in Mexico, the bureau added, describing him as a 6-foot-3-inch white male with blue eyes and brown hair, weighing around 240 pounds.
Aliases used by Wedding include James Conrad King, Jesse King, “Giant,” “Public Enemy” and “El Jefe,” according to the bureau.
Wedding is a former Olympic snowboarder who competed in the giant slalom event for Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Why Is Ryan James Wedding Wanted by the FBI?
Wedding is accused of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to export cocaine, operating a criminal enterprise, and in a killing and attempted slaying tied to a criminal enterprise. He is also accused of orchestrating other killings in connection with drug activities.
The FBI said Wedding is sought in the operation of a transnational drug trafficking network that routinely shipped hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia, through Mexico and Southern California, to locations in the U.S. and Canada.
Who Else Is on the Most Wanted list?
The other nine fugitives are: Omar Alexander Cardenas; Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales; Vitel’Homme Innocent; Fausto Isidro Meza-Flores; Alejandro Rosales Castillo; Ruja Ignatova; Yulan Adonay Archaga Carias; Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel; and Wilver Villegas-Palomino.
What People Are Saying
Akil Davis, assistant director of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, in a statement: “Wedding went from shredding powder on the slopes at the Olympics to distributing powder cocaine on the streets of U.S. cities and in his native Canada. The alleged murders of his competitors make Wedding a very dangerous man, and his addition to the list of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, coupled with a major reward offer by the State Department, will make the public our partner so that we can catch up with him before he puts anyone else in danger.”
What Happens Next
Anyone with information about Wedding is asked to contact the FBI via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram at 424-495-0614. Tips can also be submitted to local FBI offices or the nearest American embassy/consulate, or online at tips.fbi.gov.
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