In a shocking stream of events that seems more like the plot of a movie than real life, former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding has been charged with orchestrating the murder of a federal witness. According to prosecutors, Wedding, once an acclaimed snowboarder for Team Canada, allegedly helped orchestrate the murder of a federal witness in Colombia as part of a drug-trafficking conspiracy.[1]
After a prolific snowboarding career, Wedding apparently turned to a life of crime, with Attorney General Pam Bondi stating that Wedding is the largest distributor of cocaine in Canada. Bondi further alleged that Wedding works closely with the Sinaloa Cartel and imports approximately six tons of cocaine per year into Los Angeles.[2] It is thought that Wedding, who has landed himself on the FBI’s top ten most wanted list with a fifteen-million-dollar bounty, is being protected by the Sinaloa Cartel. For this particular incident, the charges allege that a witness who was set to testify against Wedding was shot and killed, with Wedding being the one who ordered the hit.[3]
This is not the first time prosecutors have charged Wedding with drug crimes, as Wedding was previously indicted in Los Angeles federal court on charges related to running a criminal enterprise, committing murder in connection with a continuous cranial enterprise, and drug crimes.[4]
From a legal standpoint, perhaps the most interesting wrinkle to this case is the fact that Wedding’s lawyer, Deepak Balwant Paradkar, was arrested in relation for the hit job, as it is alleged that Paradkar advised Wedding that the earlier charges against him would be dropped if the witness was killed. Paradkar was arrested earlier this week in Canada and will be extradited to the United States to face charges.[5]
[1] Minyvonne Burke, Ryan Wedding, Olympic snowboarder-turned-alleged drug kingpin, charged in death of federal witness, NBC News (Nov. 19, 2025).
[2] Anthony Blair, Canadian snowboarder-turned-drug kingpin Ryan Wedding ordered hit on witness set to testify: AG, New York Post (Nov. 19, 2025).
[3] Associated Press, Ex-snowboarder Ryan Wedding charged with orchestrating murder, ESPN (Nov. 20, 2025).
[4] Jordy Fee-Platt, FBI fugitive, ex-Olympic snowboarder faces new charges, including ordering murder of witness, New York Times (Nov. 20, 2025).
[5] Luke Barr and Meredith Deliso, Former Olympic snowboarder accused of ordering killing of witness set to testify against him in drug trafficking case, ABC News (Nov. 19, 2025).
Blake Breidenstein is a third year law student at the University at Buffalo School of Law who has spent much of his law school career studying how the law intertwines with the sports and entertainment industry. Throughout his time in law school, Breidenstein has supported the university's compliance office, working alongside a supervising attorney and staff in ensuring compliance with the ever-changing rules governing collegiate athletics. As a lifelong baseball player, Blake focuses much of his writing on the MLB, although his Buffalo roots occasionally turn his focus towards the Bills and Sabres.
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