SALT LAKE CITY – A former Olympic snowboarder, once known for his skills on the slopes, is now one of the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitives. Ryan Wedding, who competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, has been accused of leading a major international drug trafficking operation. The U.S. State Department has announced a $10 million reward for information leading to his capture.
From Olympian to Fugitive
Authorities allege that Wedding, also known by aliases such as “El Jefe,” “Giant,” “Public Enemy,” “James Conrad King,” and “Jesse King,” was at the helm of a drug smuggling network that funneled large quantities of cocaine from Colombia to Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
Describing him as “extremely dangerous,” the FBI claims Wedding is responsible for ordering multiple murders tied to his criminal enterprise.
“Ryan Wedding transitioned from carving through fresh snow at the Olympics to trafficking white powder through North America’s criminal underworld,” said Akil Davis, assistant director of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.
Davis explained that moving Wedding to the FBI’s Most Wanted list and significantly increasing the reward aims to enlist the public’s help in locating him before more lives are lost.
$10 Million Reward Announced
The State Department’s $10 million reward adds to the FBI’s existing $50,000 bounty, with support from U.S., Canadian, and Mexican authorities.
“This fugitive has caused widespread harm, and we are working with international partners to bring him to justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph T. McNally.
Ties to Violence and Organized Crime
Wedding and his second-in-command, Andrew Clark, are accused of orchestrating the killings of three individuals, including two members of a Canadian family over a missing drug shipment and another person over an unpaid debt.
Clark was captured in Mexico in 2024 and later extradited to the United States.
A Criminal History and Olympic Past
Wedding competed in snowboarding at the 2002 Winter Olympics, finishing 24th, according to the Olympics website. However, his life took a dark turn when he was convicted in 2010 for attempting to purchase cocaine from an undercover U.S. agent, resulting in a four-year prison sentence.
“His actions have left a trail of violence and destruction,” said Matthew Allen, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division. “This expanded search effort shines an even brighter spotlight on him.”
How to Provide Tips
Authorities are urging anyone with information about Ryan Wedding’s whereabouts to come forward.
Tips can be submitted through the FBI’s website or by contacting local FBI offices. Those wishing to remain anonymous can reach out via WhatsApp, Signal, or Telegram at +1-424-495-0614 .
