Introduction to the Case
A former Canadian Olympic snowboarder pleaded not guilty to running a billion-dollar drug trafficking ring and orchestrating multiple killings, as one of the FBI’s top fugitives made his first U.S. court appearance Monday since he was arrested in Mexico last week and flown to California.
Wedding was prosecuted nearly 15 years ago in San Diego for conspiracy to possess and distribute 24 kilos of cocaine.
Background on Ryan Wedding
U.S. authorities say Ryan Wedding, who competed in a single event for his home country in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, had been hiding in Mexico for more than a decade. He was added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list last March when authorities offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
Left: The FBI offered a reward for information leading to Ryan Wedding’s arrest. Right: Wedding competed for Canada in the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games at the Park City Mountain Resort in Park City, Utah, in 2002. Credit: Adam Pretty/Getty Images (right)
The Charges Against Wedding
Authorities say Wedding moved as much as 60 tons of cocaine between Colombia, Mexico, Canada and Southern California and believe he was working under the protection of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of Mexico’s most powerful drug rings.
His drug trafficking group was the largest supplier of cocaine to Canada, according to a 2024 indictment in his home country, where he faces separate drug charges dating back to 2015.
Arrest and Court Appearance
Mexican officials said he turned himself in at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City last week and was flown to Southern California after a yearlong effort by authorities in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Colombia and the Dominican Republic to arrest him.
When speaking to reporters Monday outside the federal court in Santa Ana, south of Los Angeles, Wedding’s defense attorney Anthony Colombo disputed that his client had turned himself in in Mexico and said he was living in Mexico, not hiding out there.
“He was arrested,” Colombo said after the brief hearing, offering no further details. “He did not surrender.”
Colombo said his client was in “good spirits" but added that “this has been a whirlwind for Mr. Wedding."
Wedding’s Court Hearing
Federal prosecutors declined to comment after the hearing. Wedding was scheduled to be back in court Feb. 11 and a trial date was set for Mar. 24.
Wedding arrived in court wearing a tan jail jumpsuit with his ankles chained. He smiled briefly, then clasped his hands and leaned back in his chair before reviewing papers with his attorney. When asked by U.S. Magistrate John D. Early if he read the indictments filed against him, Wedding answered, “I’ve read them both, yes.”
The judge ordered him held in custody, saying he could not immediately find conditions that would ensure public safety or Wedding’s appearance in court. He said he could consider bond if Wedding seeks it later.
International Cooperation
Mexico has increasingly sent detained cartel members to the U.S. as the country attempts to offset mounting threats by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said last month U.S. forces “will now start hitting land” south of the border to target drug trafficking rings.
Wedding was indicted in 2024 on federal charges of running a criminal enterprise, murder, conspiring to distribute cocaine and other crimes.
The Murder Charges
The murder charges accuse Wedding of directing the 2023 killings of two members of a Canadian family in retaliation for a stolen drug shipment, and for ordering a killing over a drug debt in 2024. Last year, Wedding was indicted on new charges of orchestrating the killing of a witness in Colombia to help him avoid extradition to the U.S.
Wedding was previously convicted in the U.S. of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and sentenced to prison in 2010. Online records show he was released from Bureau of Prisons custody in 2011.
Wedding’s San Diego Connection
The case in San Diego dates back to 2008, culminating with the arrest of Wedding and two co-conspirators on June 13 of that year.
According to prosecutors, Wedding, Michael Krapchan and Hassan Shirani were all involved in the case, which the FBI connected to the Akhundov DTO, a drug-trafficking organization based in Vancouver, Canada, that law enforcement said was led by Elmar Akhundov.
Court documents sworn to by FBI special agent Brett Kalina state that Akhundov and Krapchan were involved in negotiations with a confidential source (CS) via phone calls and in person in San Diego, Seattle and elsewhere. The pair agreed to do a drug deal in San Diego on June 9, 2008, for 24 kilos of cocaine, where the CS eventually met up with Wedding, Krapchan and Shirani, who told the CS that the bulk of the buy money was not in San Diego, but, rather, at LAX.
Conclusion
The case against Ryan Wedding is complex and involves multiple countries and charges. Wedding’s not guilty plea is the first step in what is likely to be a long and challenging legal process. As the case unfolds, it will be important to follow the developments and see how the evidence against Wedding is presented.
FAQs
Q: What are the charges against Ryan Wedding?
A: Wedding is charged with running a criminal enterprise, murder, conspiring to distribute cocaine, and other crimes.
Q: How was Wedding arrested?
A: Wedding was arrested in Mexico and flown to Southern California.
Q: What is the Sinaloa Cartel?
A: The Sinaloa Cartel is one of Mexico’s most powerful drug rings.
Q: How much cocaine did Wedding’s group move?
A: According to authorities, Wedding’s group moved as much as 60 tons of cocaine between Colombia, Mexico, Canada, and Southern California.
Q: What is the significance of the case in San Diego?
A: The case in San Diego dates back to 2008 and involves Wedding’s arrest and conviction for conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
