Ryan Wedding Explained

Ryan Wedding
Birth Name:Ryan James Wedding
Birth Date:14 September 1981
Birth Place:Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Charge:
  • Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances
  • Conspiracy to export cocaine
  • Continuing criminal enterprise
  • Murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise and drug crime
  • Attempt to commit murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise and drug crime
Alias:James Conrad King, Jesse King, "Giant", "Public Enemy", "El Jefe"
Gender:Male
Height:6inchesft3inchesin (ftin)
Occupation:Former Olympic snowboarder
Other Names:El Jefe, Giant, Public Enemy
Organization:Sinaloa Cartel
Known For:Drug trafficking, murder
Criminal Status:Captured January 23, 2026
Added Date:March 6, 2025
Status:Captured
Caught Date:January 22, 2026

Ryan James Wedding (born September 14, 1981) is a Canadian former Olympic snowboarder and alleged drug lord.[1] [2] He represented Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics in the men's parallel giant slalom event. After retiring from snowboarding, he allegedly became an international drug trafficker. On March 6, 2025, he was added to the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.[3] [4] [5] He was arrested on January 22, 2026, in Mexico City,[6] to face trial in the United States.

Early life

Ryan James Wedding was born on September 14, 1981, in Thunder Bay, Ontario, the eldest of three children. His maternal grandparents owned the Mount Baldy ski resort in Thunder Bay. His uncle was the director of a ski school and coach of the Canadian women's National Alpine Ski Team.[7] His father was an engineer and former competitive skier who, when Ryan was 12, moved his family to the Greater Vancouver suburb of Coquitlam, British Columbia, which is where Ryan began his snowboarding career.[8]

Snowboarding

Wedding won the first snowboarding race he entered and, at 15, made the Canadian National Ski Team. He won a bronze medal in the parallel giant slalom event at the 1999 Junior World Championship and a silver medal in the 2001 Junior World Championships.[9] At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, he competed for Team Canada in snowboarding men's parallel giant slalom, where he finished in twenty-fourth place. After this, he gave up competitive snowboarding.[10]

Legal issues

Marijuana farm

After the 2002 Winter Olympics, Wedding moved back to Vancouver and attended Simon Fraser University. He developed an interest in bodybuilding and started working as a bouncer. After two years in university, he dropped out and began to speculate in real estate, which he financed by growing marijuana at a 6,800-plant warehouse on a suburban property called Eighteen Carrot Farms. In 2006, the RCMP raided the farm and found a shotgun, ammunition, and $10 million worth of cannabis. Wedding was not on the property at the time and there was not enough evidence to charge him.

Cocaine conviction

Wedding expanded his operation when he joined up with Iranian and Russian cocaine smugglers.[11] In 2010, he was convicted of attempting to buy cocaine from a U.S. government agent in 2008, for which he was sentenced to four years in prison.[12] [13] [14] He was released in 2011, and around that time he allegedly began his criminal enterprise.[15]

Alleged drug lord

On October 17, 2024, Wedding was charged by the U.S. Department of Justice with "leading a transnational organized crime group that engaged in cocaine trafficking and murder, including of innocent civilians". He is charged with multiple felonies, including drug trafficking, leading a criminal organization, three counts of murder, and one attempt to commit murder.[16] [17] He was one of sixteen people to be charged as part of Operation Giant Slalom in a joint investigation by several federal agencies.[18] The murders that Wedding is accused of having carried out were of married couple Jagtar Sidhu, 57, and Harbhajan Sidhu, 55, and of Mohammed Zafar, 39. The Sidhus were killed in November 2023, while Zafar was killed in May 2024.[19] Wedding is believed to have ordered the murders alongside Andrew Clark, who has been charged with the April 2024 murder of Randy Fader, 29.[20]

According to authorities, after his release, Wedding fled to Mexico and became a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel, Mexico's largest drug cartel, where he was known by the nicknames "El Jefe", "Giant" or "Public Enemy".[21] [22] The alleged second-in-command of Wedding's trafficking ring was arrested in Mexico in October 2024.[23] [24]

Wedding is accused of having ordered the murder of a federal witness in Medellín, Colombia, in January 2025.[25] On March 6, 2025, Wedding was added to the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.[5] [26] He replaced Alexis Flores, who at the time was removed from the list without having been captured. Flores was later caught in February 2026.[27] The FBI initially offered a reward of up to US$10 million for Wedding's capture, which increased to US$15 million in November 2025 after Wedding was indicted on charges of witness intimidation, murder, and money laundering.[28] In November 2025, the FBI announced the arrest of six more defendants in the case, including an attorney for Wedding.

Arrest and trial

Wedding was arrested in Mexico on the night of January 22, 2026.[6] [29] [30] He was reported to have turned himself over to authorities, however his attorney Anthony Colombo disputed this claim, saying that Wedding was apprehended non-voluntarily.[31] [32] He first appeared in United States federal court on Monday, January 26, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.[33] Wedding appeared in court again on February 11, 2026, and his trial is scheduled to begin on March 24. However, Wedding's attorney Anthony Colombo has stated that the trial will likely involve a large amount of evidence, so it may not proceed as scheduled.

Personal life

While incarcerated in 2011, Wedding married an Iranian-born woman. They have since divorced.[34] Wedding reportedly has a girlfriend from Colombia who is accused of accepting money from him with knowledge that it came from drug trafficking.[35]

In media

In March 2025, it was announced that a television documentary series titled Snow King: From Olympian to Narco was in production, based on a Rolling Stone investigation. It is being developed by Rolling Stone Films in collaboration with the production companies Dogwoof, Visitor Media, the CBC, and Corriente del Golfo.[36] [37]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ex-Olympic snowboarder, FBI fugitive Ryan Wedding arrested . ESPN . 2026-01-23 . 2026-01-24 . 24 January 2026 . https://web.archive.org/web/20260124044108/https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/47704928/ex-olympic-snowboarder-fbi-fugitive-ryan-wedding-arrested . live .
  2. Web site: U.S. v. Wedding, Indictment (PDF) . U.S. Department of Justice . PDF . 2026-01-24 . 16 December 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20251216060401/https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1418931/dl?inline= . live .
  3. Web site: Most Wanted: RYAN JAMES WEDDING . . 20 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241106062406/https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/cei/ryan-james-wedding . 6 November 2024.
  4. Ryan Wedding Olympic Results . https://web.archive.org/web/20200418122829/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/we/ryan-wedding-1.html . dead . 18 April 2020 . 10 April 2020.
  5. Web site: Former Olympian Wanted for Running Transnational Drug Enterprise and Ordering Several Murders Added to FBI's List of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives. March 6, 2025. Federal Bureau of Investigation. en-us. 6 March 2025. https://archive.today/20250306201051/https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/losangeles/news/former-olympian-added-to-fbis-list-of-ten-most-wanted-fugitives. 6 March 2025. live.
  6. Web site: Eric . Tucker . Alanna . Durkin Richer . Mike . Balsamo . . . January 23, 2026 . AP report: Ryan Wedding, elite snowboarder turned most-wanted drug trafficking fugitive, arrested in Mexico . 2026-01-23 . en-us . 23 January 2026 . https://web.archive.org/web/20260123153011/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/ap-report-ryan-wedding-elite-snowboarder-turned-most-wanted-drug-trafficking-fugitive-arrested-in-mexico . live .
  7. Web site: McPhee . Michele . 18 January 2025 . From Olympic Dreams to FBI's Most Wanted: The Fall of Ryan Wedding . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20250315081714/https://lamag.com/crimeinla/from-olympic-dreams-to-fbis-most-wanted-the-fall-of-ryan-wedding . 15 March 2025 . 19 March 2025 . LAmag - Culture, Food, Fashion, News & Los Angeles . en.
  8. Web site: Lewsen . Simon . Becoming El Jefe . torontolife.com . 28 July 2025 . Toronto Life . 9 September 2025 . 8 September 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250908175331/https://torontolife.com/deep-dives/becoming-el-jefe-ryan-wedding-canadas-olympic-snowboarder-turned-drug-lord/ . live .
  9. Web site: NDTV . 11 March 2025 . From Olympic Snowboarder To FBI's Most Wanted, The Fall Of Ryan Wedding . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20250311091621/https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/ryan-wedding-from-olympic-snowboarder-to-fbis-most-wanted-the-fall-of-ryan-wedding-7897434 . 11 March 2025 . 19 March 2025 . en.
  10. News: Effress . Sarah . 17 October 2024 . Who is Ryan James Wedding? What to know about Canadian snowboarder charged with running cocaine ring . . 27 November 2024 . 30 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241127050049/https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/olympics/news/ryan-james-wedding-canadian-snowboarder-charged-cocaine-ring/b18c56d660a5572f96fa6269 . live .
  11. Web site: Ryan Wedding . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20241110180543/https://www.olympics.com/en/athletes/ryan-wedding . 10 November 2024 . 7 March 2025 . olympics.com.
  12. Web site: Ryan Wedding . Olympedia . 31 March 2022 . 31 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220331173553/https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/101472 . live .
  13. News: Glenda . Luymes . Who is Ryan Wedding? Former Olympic snowboarder accused of running transnational drug ring . . 18 October 2024 . 8 March 2025 . 28 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241028053007/https://vancouversun.com/news/who-is-ryan-wedding-olympic-snowboarder-transnational-drug-ring . live .
  14. News: Kim . Bolan . Snowboarder charged with trafficking . . . 31 March 2022 . 2 May 2009 . 31 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220331173952/https://www.pressreader.com/canada/vancouver-sun/20090502/281741265366587 . live .
  15. Web site: Levenson . Eric . 2025-12-06 . How an Olympic snowboarder became one of the FBI’s most wanted fugitives . 2025-12-07 . CNN . en.
  16. News: 17 October 2024 . Former Canadian Olympian charged in connection with cocaine bust, alleged murders . live . https://archive.today/20241017234636/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ryan-james-wedding-fbi-investigation-1.7355177 . 17 October 2024 . 17 October 2024 . CBC News.
  17. Web site: 17 October 2024 . 16 Defendants Charged in Superseding Indictment Alleging Bulk Shipments of Cocaine to Canada, Four Murders . live . https://archive.today/20241017234600/https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/16-defendants-charged-superseding-indictment-alleging-bulk-shipments-cocaine-canada . 17 October 2024 . 17 October 2024 . US Department of Justice.
  18. News: Goldberg . Noah . 17 October 2024 . Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder charged with running drug trafficking organization, ordering killings . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20241118045959/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-10-17/former-canadian-olympic-snowboarder-charged-with-running-drug-trafficking-organization-ordering-killings . 18 November 2024 . 7 March 2025 . . en-US.
  19. News: US$10M reward posted for ex-Olympian turned alleged drug kingpin. Tsekouras. Phil. 6 March 2025. 6 March 2025. CTV News. 6 March 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250306205041/https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/canadian-ex-olympian-accused-of-leading-deadly-international-drug-ring-added-to-fbis-most-wanted-list/. live.
  20. News: $10M bounty: Canadian Olympian on FBI's most wanted list over alleged drug crimes . Dawson . Tyler . . 6 March 2025 . 6 March 2025.
  21. News: Kevin. Nielsen. What we know about Ryan Wedding, Canadian Olympian and accused drug lord. Global News. 18 October 2024. 20 October 2024. 15 November 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20241115212458/https://globalnews.ca/news/10818235/ryan-wedding-canadian-olympian-drug-lord-fbi-ontario-murders/. live.
  22. News: Sammi. Caramela. Olympic Snowboarder Is Running Massive, Murderous Drug Trafficking Operation from Mexico, FBI Says. Vice Media. 18 October 2024. 20 October 2024. 5 December 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20241205162616/https://www.vice.com/en/article/ryan-wedding-olympic-snowboard-drug-trafficking-murder-mexico/. live.
  23. Web site: Leon. Calvi . 2025-03-15 . Canadian man accused of helping lead ex-Olympian Ryan Wedding's drug ring extradited to U.S. from Mexico . live. https://archive.today/20250228140853/https://www.thestar.com/news/crime/canadian-man-accused-of-helping-lead-ex-olympian-ryan-weddings-drug-ring-extradited-to-u/article_47c51798-f589-11ef-94f4-db47d3b2d9ce.html. 2025-02-28. 2025-03-31. Toronto Star. en.
  24. Web site: Leon . Calvi . 2025-03-27 . 'Second-in-command' to Canadian Olympian turned alleged drug lord pleads not guilty to charges including four Ontario murders . live. https://archive.today/20250327215224/https://www.thestar.com/news/crime/second-in-command-to-canadian-olympian-turned-alleged-drug-lord-pleads-not-guilty-to-charges/article_fe7eeb67-fba0-495a-93f0-f8906f0dcc00.html. 2025-03-27 . 2025-03-31. Toronto Star. en.
  25. News: Eric. Leenson. How an Olympic snowboarder became one of the FBI’s most wanted fugitives. CNN. en. 2025-12-06. 2025-12-11. 7 December 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20251207070427/https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/06/us/ryan-wedding-snowboarder-fbi-most-wanted. live.
  26. Web site: FBI offers $10M reward for Canadian ex-Olympian Ryan Wedding, now among 10 most wanted. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Daigle. Thomas. 6 March 2025. 6 March 2025. 6 March 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250306194232/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ryan-wedding-most-wanted-1.7476637. live.
  27. News: Casiano. Louis. February 11, 2026. Exclusive: FBI captures longtime fugitive in Honduras in connection with 2000 killing of Philadelphia girl. Fox News. February 14, 2026.
  28. Web site: Alund . Natalie Neysa . Former Olympic snowboarder indicted, facing murder, drug charges . 2025-11-20 . USA TODAY . en-US . 20 November 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20251120155257/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/11/19/ryan-wedding-olympics-fbi-drug-murder-charges/87352012007/ . live .
  29. Web site: Levenson . Eric . Campbell . Josh . 2026-01-23 . Former Olympic snowboarder and FBI fugitive Ryan Wedding arrested . 2026-01-23 . CNN . en . 23 January 2026 . https://web.archive.org/web/20260123164426/https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/23/us/former-olympic-snowboarder-fbi-fugitive-ryan-wedding-arrested . live .
  30. Web site: Ryan Wedding, ex-Olympic snowboarder accused of being a drug kingpin, is arrested. NBC News. 2026-01-23. 2026-01-23. en. 23 January 2026. https://web.archive.org/web/20260123213957/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ryan-wedding-former-olympic-snowboarder-alleged-drug-kingpin-arrested-rcna255579. live.
  31. News: Alfonso . Denny . 2026-01-27 . Former Olympian Ryan Wedding pleads not guilty to drug trafficking, murder charges . 2026-01-27 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  32. Web site: Taxin . Amy . 2026-01-26 . Ex-Olympic snowboarder pleads not guilty to running a drug smuggling ring . 2026-01-27 . AP News . en.
  33. Web site: 2026-01-26 . Ex-Olympic snowboarder pleads not guilty to running a drug smuggling ring . 2026-01-27 . CNN . en.
  34. Web site: Daigle. Thomas. 27 February 2025. Fugitive Ryan Wedding's ex-wife named in money laundering, kidnapping probes. 30 March 2025. CBC News. 30 March 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250330114242/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/ryan-wedding-wife-money-laundering-probes-1.7469035. live.
  35. Web site: U.S. Sanctions Expose the Women Aiding Fugitive Ryan Wedding. LAmag. 2025-11-20. 2025-11-28. en-US. Michele. McPhee. 22 November 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20251122181743/https://lamag.com/crimeinla/inside-the-women-the-u-s-says-helped-power-ryan-weddings-narco-empire/. live.
  36. Blistein . Jon . 17 March 2025 . Rolling Stone Investigation Into Snowboarder Turned Drug Lord to Become Docuseries . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20250317201027/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/ryan-wedding-docuseries-snow-king-1235297687/ . 17 March 2025 . 19 March 2025 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  37. Web site: Carey . Matthew . 17 March 2025 . Docuseries On Ryan Wedding, Olympic Snowboarder-Turned-FBI Most Wanted Fugitive, Coming From Dogwoof, Visitor Media . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20250317153512/https://deadline.com/2025/03/ryan-wedding-docuseries-snow-king-announcement-1236328065/ . 17 March 2025 . 19 March 2025 . Deadline . en-US.

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