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Canada Olympian charged with drug trafficking, orchestrating murders
A one-time Olympic snowboarder was charged by federal prosecutors for operating a world drug trafficking ring that shipped a whole lot of kilos of cocaine into the US and was concerned in “orchestrating a number of murders.”
The U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace within the Central District of California introduced the costs Thursday for 43-year-old Ryan James Wedding ceremony, a Canada native who’s believed to be in Mexico and a fugitive. The eight costs embrace homicide, legal enterprise, in addition to conspiring to own, distribute and export cocaine.
Prosecutors allege Wedding ceremony’s operation shipped cocaine from Colombia via Mexico and the Los Angeles space earlier than it was delivered all through the US and Canada by way of long-haul semi-trucks. With aliases that embrace “El Jefe,” “Large” and “Public Enemy,” Wedding ceremony’s group “resorted to violence – together with a number of murders – to realize its goals,” officers mentioned.
Wedding ceremony and associate Andrew Clark allegedly directed the murders of two individuals in Ontario, Canada, in November 2023 in retaliation for a stolen drug cargo. One other particular person was injured within the taking pictures and left with bodily accidents. It’s also alleged the pair ordered the homicide of one other particular person in Could 2024 over a drug debt.
“(Wedding ceremony) selected to turn out to be a significant drug trafficker and he selected to turn out to be a killer,” U.S. Legal professional Martin Estrada mentioned throughout a information convention. “They had been killers. Anybody who bought of their method they might goal with violence, together with homicide.”
Wedding ceremony competed for Canada within the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake Metropolis within the parallel large slalom. He’s certainly one of 16 individuals charged in reference to the drug trafficking ring. Clark was arrested in Mexico in October, however 4 individuals stay fugitives, together with Wedding ceremony. Throughout its investigation into the ring, regulation enforcement has seized multiple ton of cocaine, in addition to firearms, ammunition, $255,400 in U.S. forex and greater than $3.2 million in cryptocurrency.
The Olympian additionally faces drug costs in Canada. He beforehand was convicted of conspiring to distribute cocaine and was sentenced to jail in 2010, based on The Related Press. Estrada mentioned after he was launched from jail, Wedding ceremony continued to take part in drug trafficking and was protected by the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico.
The FBI is providing a $50,000 reward for info resulting in Wedding ceremony’s apprehension, arrest and extradition.
Observe Jordan Mendoza on social media @jordan_mendoza5