Slain Cartel Boss Aided Olympian Ryan Wedding in Drug Trafficking and Evasion Scheme
U.S. prosecutors claim a deceased Mexican cartel leader helped Olympian Ryan Wedding traffic drugs and evade law enforcement before his arrest in January.
POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — Federal prosecutors have unsealed a major indictment alleging that a deceased Mexican cartel leader provided critical assistance to Olympian Ryan Wedding in international drug smuggling and evasion efforts.
According to the Department of Justice, the 51-year-old leader, referred to as ‘El General,’ helped Wedding transport cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl from Central America into the United States and Canada.
The investigation reveals that Wedding utilized planes, maritime vessels, and land-based methods to move illicit substances. One specific shipment involving 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine was valued at approximately $550,000.
Prosecutors further claim the cartel boss leveraged his deep connections with organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel to provide Wedding with sensitive intelligence regarding both U.S. and Mexican law enforcement operations.
The indictment asserts that the leader bribed Mexican public officials to facilitate safe passage through security checkpoints and to help Wedding avoid authorities until his eventual capture in January.
The cartel leader was shot and killed by Mexican security forces last week in Naucalpan. Prior to his arrest, the FBI had placed the Olympian on its Top Ten Most Wanted List due to his alleged criminal activities.
Wedding currently faces 17 felony charges across two indictments, including drug trafficking and multiple murders. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and remains in U.S. custody without bond.
If convicted on all counts, Wedding faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
