TLDR
- FBI has placed former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding on its Ten Most Wanted list with a $10 million reward
- Wedding allegedly operated a cocaine smuggling network across North America using Tether (USDT) for money laundering
- The former athlete is accused of ordering multiple murders, including a 2023 attack on a family in Ontario
- He is believed to be hiding in Mexico with protection from the Sinaloa cartel
- Wedding faces potential life imprisonment if convicted of the numerous charges against him
The FBI has escalated its search for Ryan Wedding, placing the former Canadian Olympic snowboarder on its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. A $10 million reward now hangs over the head of the athlete-turned-alleged drug kingpin.
Wedding’s story marks a stunning fall from representing his country at the Winter Olympics to becoming one of America’s most wanted criminals. The dramatic shift has left many wondering how an elite athlete could take such a dark turn.
The U.S. Department of State announced the reward through its Narcotics Rewards Program on Thursday. This large sum shows how badly authorities want to capture Wedding, who has evaded arrest for months.
The FBI didn’t mince words when describing Wedding’s transformation. “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,” said Akil Davis from the FBI’s Los Angeles office.
The legal troubles for Wedding began in October 2024. That’s when the Department of Justice charged him and 15 others with running a massive drug trafficking operation.
The Criminal Empire
Prosecutors paint a picture of a sophisticated criminal network. The operation allegedly moved cocaine from Colombia through Mexico before distributing it throughout the United States and Canada.
The indictment claims Wedding didn’t just participate in drug trafficking. He and co-defendant Andrew Clark allegedly led the entire organization, overseeing every aspect of the operation.
Authorities say Wedding’s group smuggled hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl. These dangerous drugs flowed across borders while the profits flowed back to Wedding and his associates.
Violence became a tool of the trade for the organization. Wedding and Clark allegedly ordered multiple murders to protect their business interests and eliminate threats.
One particularly troubling incident involved an attack on a family in Ontario, Canada in 2023. This violence shows how far the group would go to maintain control of their territory.
While Clark has been captured in Mexico, Wedding remains on the run. Law enforcement believes he has found protection with the Sinaloa cartel, one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations.
The consequences awaiting Wedding if caught are severe. He faces life in prison if convicted of running a continuing criminal enterprise, the most serious charge against him.
Murder and attempted murder charges carry minimum sentences of 20 years. The drug trafficking counts could add another 10 to 15 years to his potential sentence.
The financial reward for information leading to Wedding’s capture is substantial. Beyond the State Department’s $10 million, the FBI has added $50,000, bringing the total to more than $10 million.
Crypto’s Criminal Connection
A key element of Wedding’s operation was his alleged use of cryptocurrency. Prosecutors say he used Tether (USDT), a popular stablecoin, to launder money and hide the source of drug profits.
This crypto angle allowed Wedding to move money outside traditional banking systems. Such transactions are harder for authorities to track and block compared to regular bank transfers.
Wedding’s case fits into a broader trend of criminal organizations using stablecoins. A recent report showed Mexican cartels increasingly rely on Tether to move funds across borders quickly.
The ease of transfer and relative anonymity make cryptocurrencies attractive to criminal groups. Once converted to Tether, drug money can be moved globally without physical cash crossing borders.
In response to such activities, Tether has joined forces with other crypto companies. In January 2025, Tether, Tron and TRM Labs formed the T3 Financial Crime Unit to combat criminal uses of their platforms.
This coalition has already frozen more than $126 million in USDT linked to criminal activity. They work with law enforcement worldwide to identify and block suspicious transactions.
The U.S. government has seized millions in USDT connected to cocaine trafficking. These seizures demonstrate how seriously authorities are taking crypto’s role in facilitating crime.
As the hunt for Wedding continues, his case highlights the evolving nature of drug trafficking. Modern criminal organizations now blend traditional methods with new technologies to stay ahead of law enforcement.
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