Canadian fugitive Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder, and several associates allegedly used large volumes of cryptocurrency to launder proceeds from cocaine trafficking, according to a U.S. indictment. Prosecutors further claim that Wedding organized the murder of a witness prepared to testify against him.
The U.S. indictment details allegations against Ryan Wedding, identifying him as a Canadian fugitive and former Olympic snowboarder involved in financial crimes linked to drug trafficking. Wedding and his associates are accused of employing cryptocurrency to clean large volumes of proceeds from cocaine operations.
Prosecutors assert that Wedding went to extreme lengths to protect the scheme, including organizing the murder of a witness who was set to provide testimony against him. This charge underscores the violent elements intertwined with the alleged laundering activities.
The case highlights the growing use of digital currencies in illicit finance, though specific details on the timeline, scale, or methods beyond the use of crypto remain limited in the available information. No further context on Wedding's Olympic background or prior activities is provided in the indictment summary.