Former Olympian Ryan Wedding pleads not guilty to 17 felony charges
Phoebe Tonks
Featured Image Credit: U.S. Embassy in Mexico
Former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding has pleaded not guilty to all 17 felony charges against him, which include drug trafficking, witness tampering and conspiracy to commit murder.
The 44 year old was arrested last week after over a decade on the run from authorities, with much of that time spent on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list for allegedly running a transnational drug cartel that brought millions of dollars' worth of cocaine into Los Angeles and distributed it to Canada and across the US.
In his first court appearance since being arrested in Mexico last week, Wedding appeared unbothered and calm as he smiled at his attorney, members of the media and FBI agents in attendance.
He stands accused of multiple drug trafficking charges, money laundering, and witness tampering, along with the more serious allegation of allegedly orchestrating the murder of a man who planned to testify against him.
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US officials have alleged the former athlete was living in Mexico under the Sinaloa drug cartel's protection.
As per the BBC, Wedding told Judge John Early on Monday that he had read the two indictments against him and understood his rights. His attorney did not request bail, but said they may do so at another date.
Wedding, who once represented Canada in the Winter Olympics, is believed to have turned to a life of crime some years ago and has since been linked with a series of serious offences.
He was one of the FBI’s most sought after criminals and last year the agency offered a $15,000,000 reward for anyone who came forward with information leading to his arrest.
The last confirmed sighting of the 44-year-old is said to have been two years ago, CBC News reports, but authorities made pivotal progress in tracking Wedding down in December, when four raids were carried out at properties in Mexico.
During these raids, law enforcement seized 62 high-end motorcycles, two vehicles, methamphetamine, marijuana, artwork, ammunition, and documents as part of the raids.
Previously described as a ‘modern-day iteration of Pablo Escobar’ by FBI director Kash Patel, the agency says Wedding's aliases include ‘El Jefe,’ ‘Giant,’ ‘Public Enemy,’ ‘James Conrad King,’ and ‘Jesse King’.
Officials allege that he launched his booming criminal enterprise following his release from a US federal prison in 2011, where he had been incarcerated on charges relating to cocaine distribution.
He is also alleged to have ordered dozens of murders across the globe, including in the US, Canada and Latin America.
He had been due to appear in court in Los Angeles, but the location was soon changed to Santa Ana in Orange County, in response to ongoing protests over federal immigration operations that were taking place outside the LA federal building.
Wedding is next due in court in Los Angeles on 9 February.