FBI Adds Former Canadian Olympic Snowboarder To Most Wanted List With A $10 Million Reward

Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, has officially been placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Authorities say he is responsible for leading a massive drug trafficking ring and ordering multiple murders.

Wedding first made headlines back in 2002 when he competed in the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. He participated in the parallel giant slalom event, finishing in 24th place.

However, his life appears to have taken a drastically different turn since then. He is now accused of running an international drug operation that allegedly smuggled hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia, through Mexico and California, and into Canada and various US cities.

Wedding competed in the Parallel Giant Slalom event Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty Images

In addition to his alleged drug empire, Wedding is accused of orchestrating multiple murders. This includes the deaths of two members of a family in Ontario, Canada, as well as an attempted murder reportedly all tied to his drug operations.

The FBI detailed the allegations in a press conference on March 6, where Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge (ADIC) of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, announced Wedding’s addition to the agency’s Most Wanted list.

Davis was joined by officials from several law enforcement agencies, including the US Department of State, Royal Canadian Mounted Police–Federal Policing, Los Angeles Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration–Los Angeles, and the US Attorney's Office–Central District of California.

Wedding is described as having brown hair and blue eyes FBI

Authorities say Wedding, originally from Thunder Bay, Canada, has gone by several aliases, including ‘El Jefe,’ ‘Giant,’ ‘Public Enemy,’ ‘James Conrad King,’ and ‘Jesse King.’

Commenting on his addition to the list, Davis stated: "Wedding went from shredding powder on the slopes at the Olympics to distributing powder cocaine on the streets of U.S. cities and in his native Canada."

He continued, emphasizing the urgency of the manhunt: "The alleged murders of his competitors make Wedding a very dangerous man, and his addition to the list of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, coupled with a major reward offer by the State Department, will make the public our partner so that we can catch up with him before he puts anyone else in danger."

Wedding has been accused of running a drug trafficking network Getty Stock Photo

The charges against Wedding stem from an indictment filed in June 2024. He and his second-in-command, Andrew Clark, were charged with operating a continuing criminal enterprise, committing murder in connection with their activities, and various drug-related offenses. The charges also include conspiracy to distribute, possess, and export large quantities of cocaine.

In September, a federal grand jury in Los Angeles returned a superseding indictment that added an attempted murder charge against both Wedding and Clark.

Clark was arrested in Mexico in October 2024. Meanwhile, the FBI is now offering a staggering $10 million reward for any information leading to Wedding’s capture and conviction. The agency believes Wedding, who is described as being 6'3" with brown hair and blue eyes, ", is residing in Mexico."

If convicted, Wedding faces a mandatory life sentence in federal prison for running a continuing criminal enterprise. The murder and attempted murder charges carry minimum sentences of 20 years, while the drug trafficking offenses come with mandatory prison terms ranging from 10 to 15 years.

The FBI urges anyone with knowledge of Wedding’s whereabouts to contact them. Tips can be submitted anonymously via WhatsApp, Signal, or Telegram at +1-424-495-0614. People can also reach out to their local FBI office, the nearest US Embassy or Consulate, or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. Authorities have assured that all tipsters will remain confidential.