Former Olympian Ryan Wedding Faces New Murder Charges Amid Global Crackdown

In a significant international law enforcement action on November 19, 2025, former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan James Wedding, already on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, has been hit with new charges including murder, witness tampering, money laundering, and expanded drug trafficking offenses. U.S. authorities, in a coordinated effort with Canadian and Mexican counterparts, announced an increased reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction, highlighting the severity and global reach of his alleged criminal enterprise.

Witness Assassination Triggers New Charges

The most damning of the new charges stems from Wedding’s alleged involvement in the assassination of a key federal witness, Jonathan Acebedo-Garcia, a Canadian citizen. Acebedo-Garcia, 42, was shot dead in broad daylight in Medellín, Colombia, in January 2025, just before he was set to testify against Wedding’s organization. Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the department’s commitment to protecting federal witnesses, stating that such acts undermine the rule of law.

Adding a shocking twist to the case, Canadian attorney Deepak Balwant Paradkar was arrested and accused of advising Wedding to murder Acebedo-Garcia. According to Bill Essayli, first assistant U.S. attorney at the Central District of California, Paradkar allegedly told Wedding, “If you kill this witness, the case will be dismissed.” Paradkar is also accused of providing a range of illegal services, including introducing drug traffickers, assisting with bribery, and allowing Wedding to eavesdrop on privileged communications with other clients whom Wedding intended to murder. For these illicit services, Wedding reportedly compensated Paradkar with luxury watches and additional fees.

Further arrests in connection with Acebedo-Garcia’s murder include Atna Onha, a 40-year-old Montreal crime figure, who was apprehended by the RCMP at the FBI’s request. In total, seven Canadians have been arrested as part of this international takedown, which saw at least a dozen individuals taken into custody across the U.S., Mexico, Colombia, and Canada.

A Billion-Dollar Criminal Empire

Ryan Wedding, 44, known by aliases such as “El Jefe,” “Giant,” “Public Enemy,” and “James Conrad King,” is accused of leading one of the world’s most prolific and violent drug-trafficking organizations. FBI Director Kash Patel likened Wedding to notorious drug lords Pablo Escobar and El Chapo Guzmán, underscoring the scale of his operations.

His network is alleged to traffic multi-ton quantities of cocaine—estimated at 60 metric tons annually—from Colombia and Mexico for distribution across the United States and Canada. This illicit trade generates over $1 billion in proceeds each year. Wedding is believed to be currently residing in Mexico, operating under the protection of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel.

The violence associated with Wedding’s organization is extensive. He is believed to be responsible for ordering dozens of murders globally, including U.S. citizens. In Canada, his organization has been linked to at least four killings, including a tragic incident in Caledon on November 20, 2023, where an Indian couple was mistakenly targeted and murdered in retaliation for a stolen drug shipment. Another victim, Randy Fader, a 39-year-old Brampton man, was killed in May 2024, allegedly on Wedding’s orders.

International Sanctions Target Wedding’s Network

In a parallel move, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against Wedding and nine individuals and nine entities closely associated with him. This action, part of an elaborate international and interagency effort dubbed “Operation Giant Slalom,” aims to sever Wedding and his partners from the U.S. financial system.

Key Sanctioned Individuals and Entities:

• Edgar Aaron Vazquez Alvarado (a.k.a. “the General”): A former Mexican law enforcement officer providing protection and locating targets for Wedding. His Mexico-based fuel companies—VRG Energeticos S.A. de C.V., Grupo RVG Combustibles S.A. de C.V., and Grupo Ares Imperial S. de R.L. de C.V.—were also sanctioned.
• Miryam Andrea Castillo Moreno: Wedding’s wife, accused of laundering drug proceeds and assisting in violent acts.
• Carmen Yelinet Valoyes Florez: A Colombian national running a high-end prostitution ring in Mexico, who allegedly assisted in the January 2025 witness murder.
• Daniela Alejandra Acuna Macias: Wedding’s Colombian girlfriend, who received significant funds and assisted in gathering intelligence on rivals.
• Deepak Balwant Paradkar: The Canadian attorney, sanctioned for providing illegal services beyond the scope of a normal attorney-client relationship.
• Rolan Sokolovski: A Canadian jeweler who laundered millions in drug proceeds through his Toronto business, 2351885 Ontario Inc (operating as “Diamond Tsar”), and via cryptocurrency.
• Gianluca Tiepolo: A former Italian special forces member who procured and managed Wedding’s luxury assets, including high-end vehicles, and founded Windrose Tactical Solutions S.R.L.S., which trained Wedding’s hitmen. His businesses, Italy-based Stile Italiano S.R.L. and UK-based TMR Ltd, were also sanctioned.
• Cristian Diana: Italian citizen and president of the board for Stile Italiano and Windrose Tactical.
• John Anthony Fallon: UK citizen, director of TMR Ltd, and owner/director of UK companies LMJ Trading Ltd and Made In Italy Motorcycles Limited, which were also sanctioned.

These sanctions freeze any assets these individuals and entities hold in the United States and generally prohibit U.S. persons and companies from engaging in transactions with them. Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley stated, “Our goal is simple: make it difficult for criminals like this to profit from poisoning our communities.”

A Relentless Pursuit

Wedding, who competed in the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, was initially charged in 2024. Authorities believe he may have undergone plastic surgery to alter his appearance and has exploited his connections with cartels to evade capture. The State Department has also offered $2 million awards for information leading to the arrest of individuals involved in the witness’s killing.

RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme affirmed Canada’s commitment to the joint effort, stating that Wedding “remains one of the top threats to Canadian public safety.” This coordinated international response underscores the unwavering determination of law enforcement agencies to dismantle Wedding’s violent network and bring him to justice.

For more details on this developing story, visit digitaltrendstoday.com.