Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder facing charges of drug trafficking and murder, appeared in a federal courtroom in California on Monday for his initial hearing. The 44-year-old Canadian was detained in Mexico City last week and transported to Southern California, nearly a year after authorities added him to the FBI’s Most Wanted Fugitives list.
FBI Director Kash Patel described Wedding as a ‘modern-day El Chapo’ and compared him to Pablo Escobar, noting that he believed he could escape justice. Collaborative efforts by law enforcement from North and South America, under Operation Giant Slalom, uncovered evidence of a billion-dollar drug operation led by Wedding, according to federal prosecutors.
During the hearing, Wedding entered a not guilty plea to two indictments. His attorney, Anthony Colombo, clarified to reporters that Wedding was arrested and did not surrender voluntarily.
The 2002 Olympian, who competed in the parallel giant slalom at the Salt Lake City Games, first faced arrest in 2008 for attempting to purchase cocaine from a U.S. federal agent. Convicted in 2009, he served time until his release in 2011. Investigators assert that post-release, Wedding established an extensive international network transporting large volumes of drugs across continents.
Alleged Murders Linked to the Operation
Prosecutors accuse Wedding of directing multiple murders to safeguard his criminal activities. In one incident believed to involve mistaken identity, Canadian couple Jagtar and Harbhajan Sidhu were fatally shot in front of their 28-year-old daughter, Jaspreet Kaur, who sustained permanent injuries.
Other cases include the killing of Mohammad Afar, reportedly over a drug-related debt, and Jonathan Acebedo-Garcia, an alleged associate who became a federal witness and was shot at a restaurant in Medellín.
Several individuals tied to Wedding’s alleged network face charges, with some in Canadian custody pending extradition and others, including women described as his wife and girlfriend, prohibited from entering the U.S. All accused individuals remain presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Key Associates in the Alleged Network
Miryam Andrea Castillo Moreno
A 34-year-old from Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Castillo Moreno is identified as Wedding’s wife by the U.S. Treasury Department, which sanctioned her for suspected money laundering. She reportedly married Wedding while he was incarcerated in 2011. No arrest has occurred in connection with Operation Giant Slalom, and her current location is unknown.
Authorities indicate she originates from northwest Mexico and previously worked as an event hostess, posting glamorous images on now-deleted social media profiles. Her relationship status with Wedding or connections to others in the network remain unclear.
Daniela Alejandra Acuna Macias
This 23-year-old from Barranquilla, Colombia, is alleged to be Wedding’s girlfriend. Sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury and barred from the U.S., she faces accusations of receiving substantial funds from Wedding to support a lifestyle derived from narcotics trafficking. Officials claim she aided in gathering intelligence on rivals.
Acuna was reportedly introduced to Wedding by a prominent figure in Mexico City’s escort scene.
Carmen Yelinet Valoyes Florez
A 47-year-old Colombian national operating a high-end escort service in Mexico City, Valoyes is accused of assisting Wedding in locating Acebedo-Garcia, who was subsequently murdered. She allegedly facilitated Acuna’s introduction to Wedding. Valoyes was detained in November as part of Operation Giant Slalom.
Deepak Balwant Paradkar
Known as the ‘Cocaine Lawyer’ and using aliases like ‘Descartes,’ this 62-year-old Canadian barrister represented Wedding in his 2024 indictment. Arrested in November, Paradkar faces charges for advising Wedding to eliminate a federal witness. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated that Paradkar suggested, ‘If you kill this witness [Acebedo-Garcia], the case would be dismissed.’
The U.S. Treasury sanctioned the dual Indian-Canadian citizen, alleging he connected Wedding to drug traffickers, allowed eavesdropping on client discussions, and received payments in luxury watches. Paradkar is resisting extradition to the U.S.
Andrew Clark
A 34-year-old Canadian nicknamed ‘El Dictador,’ Clark was extradited from Mexico last year among 29 narcotics suspects. He pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and four murders in Ontario, including the Sidhu family incident. Previously an elevator mechanic and landlord, Clark was protected by the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico before his 2024 arrest.
Edgar Aaron Vazquez Alvarad
Former Mexican law enforcement officer dubbed ‘The General,’ Vazquez is accused of providing security for Wedding and identifying targets. The U.S. Treasury has imposed sanctions on him.
Rolan Sokolovski
A 37-year-old Canadian poker player, Sokolovski allegedly laundered millions through cryptocurrency, jewelry, and watches via his business, Diamond Tsar, acting as the network’s financial hub. Known as ‘the Jew’ among associates, he was arrested in November and contests extradition. His attorney, Scott Fenton, noted that Sokolovski awaits a February 20 bail ruling and has not commented on the allegations.
U.S. prosecutors label him a flight risk due to access to vast cryptocurrency and assets.
Rasheed Pascua Hossain and Bianca Canastillo-Madrid
These individuals, a Canadian and a Mexican respectively, are wanted for money laundering tied to Wedding’s operation and remain at large.
Gursewak Singh Bal
Co-founder of the seized website The Dirty News, Bal allegedly accepted $10,000 to post a photo of Acebedo-Garcia on Instagram, captioning it to aid in locating him for murder. He faces potential extradition.
Malik Damion Cunningham
A 23-year-old Canadian, Cunningham is accused of executing a 2024 murder on Clark’s orders. Authorities seized ammunition, over $100,000, and phones from him. The indictment details Clark providing training, weapons, and a vehicle. Cunningham has been in custody for 13 months, awaiting extradition proceedings.
