Olympic gold medalist Shaun White flies through the air on his way to winning the mens halfpipe, at the U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships, at Stratton Mountain Vermont March 18, 2006.
LOS ANGELES – Federal authorities announced a staggering $10 million reward Thursday for information leading to the arrest of Ryan James Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder turned fugitive crime boss, who is accused of orchestrating drug trafficking and multiple murders in Los Angeles.
Wedding, a Canadian citizen, is wanted by the FBI on murder and drug-related charges linked to a sprawling narcotics enterprise that moved tons of cocaine and fentanyl through Los Angeles. The FBI alleges he ran one of the most sophisticated drug networks in North America, using the city as a major distribution hub.
“Wedding went from being an elite athlete to running one of the most sophisticated drug trafficking networks in North America,” said Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.
Authorities believe Wedding is currently hiding in Mexico, potentially under the protection of the Sinaloa Cartel. He is known to use several aliases, including James Conrad King, Jesse King, Giant, Public Enemy, and El Jefe.
A federal arrest warrant was issued for Wedding in September in Los Angeles. He was one of 16 defendants indicted last year as part of a sweeping drug investigation.
LAPD Chief of Detectives Alan Hamilton underscored the severity of the case, noting that Wedding was not just a drug trafficker but also a suspected orchestrator of multiple murders tied to his criminal enterprise.
“Wedding used Los Angeles as a primary hub for narcotics distribution, fueling the fentanyl crisis and leaving a trail of violence in its wake,” Hamilton said.
The massive reward, one of the largest ever offered by the FBI for a fugitive, reflects the urgency of the manhunt. Federal officials urge anyone with information to come forward as they intensify efforts to bring the former Olympian-turned-crime kingpin to justice.
