Key Takeaways:
- Ryan James Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder, has been accused of running a billion-dollar cocaine cartel and orchestrating murders.
- Wedding’s crime spree began in 2008, after a failed Olympic debut and a drug deal gone wrong.
- He is believed to be hiding in Mexico and is being protected by the cartel, with a $15 million reward offered for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction.
- Wedding’s organization is responsible for importing approximately 60 metric tons of cocaine into Los Angeles each year.
- He has been accused of ordering hits on rival traffickers, witnesses, and others who have crossed him.
Introduction to Ryan James Wedding
Ryan James Wedding, a 44-year-old Canadian, has undergone a drastic transformation from a promising Olympic snowboarder to one of the most violent and ruthless criminals in the world. According to FBI Director Kash Patel, Wedding’s crimes are comparable to those of infamous drug lords Pablo Escobar and Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán. Wedding’s alleged crimes include orchestrating murders, running a billion-dollar cocaine cartel, and ordering hits on witnesses and rival traffickers.
The Early Life of Ryan James Wedding
Wedding was born in Thunder Bay, Canada, a small city surrounded by wilderness and the Nor’Wester Mountain range. His parents were wealthy, and his grandparents owned a ski resort where Wedding learned to snowboard. He represented Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, but failed to achieve fame and fortune. After his Olympic debut, Wedding turned to a life of crime, transitioning from "shredding powder on the slopes" to "distributing powder cocaine on the streets of U.S. cities and in his native Canada," as described by Akil Davis, the Assistant Director of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.
The Beginnings of a Life of Crime
In 2008, Wedding traveled to San Diego with two other men to buy cocaine, but the dealer they met with was an undercover FBI agent. Wedding was arrested and later found guilty of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. At his sentencing, he apologized for his "stupid and irresponsible decisions" and expressed remorse for his actions. However, his regret was short-lived, and after his release from prison, he founded his criminal drug enterprise. The judge’s decision to impose a lighter sentence, due to Wedding’s apparent remorse, ultimately proved to be misguided.
The Rise of a Cocaine Cartel
Wedding’s organization, working with members of Mexican drug cartels, used boats and planes to move hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia to Mexico. The cocaine was then smuggled across the border into Southern California, where it was distributed to Canada and other states. According to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Wedding’s organization is responsible for importing approximately 60 metric tons of cocaine into Los Angeles each year, making him the largest distributor of cocaine in Canada. The organization’s activities have been marked by violence and intimidation, with Wedding allegedly ordering hits on rival traffickers and witnesses.
Allegations of Murder and Witness Tampering
Wedding has been accused of ordering the murder of a witness who was set to testify against him in a criminal case. The witness was shot and killed in January at a restaurant in Medellín, Colombia. Wedding is also alleged to have enlisted the services of a Canadian-based assassin crew to kill another victim and directed the murders of two members of a family in Canada in retaliation for a stolen drug shipment. These allegations demonstrate the extreme violence and ruthlessness that Wedding’s organization is capable of.
Accomplices and Associates
Several individuals, including Wedding’s wife, Miryam Andrea Castillo Moreno, have been accused of contributing to his reign of terror. Edgar Aaron Vazquez Alvarado, known as "the General," allegedly provides protection for Wedding in Mexico and uses law enforcement sources to find targets for him. A Canadian attorney, Deepak Balwant Paradkar, has been accused of providing a range of illegal services to Wedding, including bribery and murder. Paradkar was arrested on Tuesday, and his alleged involvement in Wedding’s organization highlights the extent of the cartel’s reach and influence.
Conclusion and Current Status
Ryan James Wedding’s transformation from a promising Olympic snowboarder to a ruthless criminal is a shocking and disturbing tale. His alleged crimes have had far-reaching consequences, and his organization’s activities continue to pose a significant threat to public safety. The $15 million reward offered for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction is a testament to the severity of his alleged crimes and the determination of law enforcement to bring him to justice. As the search for Wedding continues, it is clear that his eventual capture and prosecution will be a major blow to the cocaine cartel and a significant victory for law enforcement.