{"id":24589,"date":"2025-11-19T12:52:49","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T20:52:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/ryan-wedding-fugitive-ex-olympian-charged-in-murder-of-witness-nbc-los-angeles\/"},"modified":"2025-11-19T12:52:50","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T20:52:50","slug":"ryan-wedding-fugitive-ex-olympian-charged-in-murder-of-witness-nbc-los-angeles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/ryan-wedding-fugitive-ex-olympian-charged-in-murder-of-witness-nbc-los-angeles\/","title":{"rendered":"Ryan Wedding, fugitive ex-Olympian, charged in murder of witness \u2013 NBC Los Angeles"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction to the Case<\/h1>\n

A former Olympic snowboarder for Canada who is wanted by authorities for running a multi-national drug trafficking network is facing additional charges in connection with the killing of a federal witness, Attorney General Pam Bondi said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Background of the Defendant<\/h2>\n

Ten other defendants have been arrested on charges in the federal indictment unsealed in California that accuses Ryan Wedding of orchestrating the January killing of the witness in Colombia to help Wedding avoid extradition to the U.S.<\/p>\n

Current Status of the Defendant<\/h3>\n

Authorities are now offering up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest of Wedding, who’s on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list. He’s believed to be living in Mexico under the protection of the Sinaloa cartel, whom authorities say he’s working with closely to funnel massive quantities of drugs into Canada and the U.S.<\/p>\n

Statement from the Attorney General<\/h4>\n

\u201cWhether you are a street-level drug dealer … or an international drug kingpin, we are coming for you,\u201d Bondi told reporters. \u201cWe will find you and you will be accountable and held to justice for your crimes.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Drug Trafficking Charges<\/h2>\n

Wedding \u2014 whose aliases include \u201cEl Jefe,\u201d \u201cPublic Enemy,\u201d and \u201cJames Conrad King" \u2014 was charged in 2024 with running a drug ring that moves some 60 tons of cocaine a year using long-haul semi trucks to bring the drugs between Colombia, Mexico, Southern California and Canada.<\/p>\n

The Involvement of the Witness<\/h3>\n

Authorities say Wedding and his co-conspirators used a Canadian website called \u201cthe Dirty News\u201d to post a photograph of the witness so he could be identified and killed. The witness was then followed to a restaurant in Medell\u00edn in January and shot in the head.<\/p>\n

Motive Behind the Killing<\/h4>\n

\u201cWedding placed the bounty on the victim\u2019s head, and the erroneous belief that the victim\u2019s death would result in the dismissal of criminal charges against him and his international drug trafficking ring, and would further ensure that he was not extradited to the United States. He was wrong." said Bill Essayli, the top federal prosecutor for the Central District of California.<\/p>\n

Rewards for Information<\/h2>\n

The U.S. government is also offering rewards of up to $2 million for others involved in the killing of the witness.
\n<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h1>\n

The case of Ryan Wedding highlights the dangerous and complex world of international drug trafficking. With the defendant still at large and believed to be under the protection of a major cartel, the situation poses significant challenges for law enforcement. The substantial rewards offered for information leading to Wedding’s arrest and for those involved in the killing of the witness underscore the gravity of the situation and the commitment of authorities to bring those responsible to justice.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h1>\n