Ex-Olympian Ryan Wedding pleads not guilty to federal charges that he operated a Mexican drug cartel

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Ex-Olympic Snowboarder Plead Not Guilty to Federal Charges of Operating Mexican Drug Cartel

Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder from Canada, pleaded not guilty on Monday to 17 felony charges related to his alleged involvement in operating a Mexican drug cartel. The charges, which include multiple counts of drug trafficking and murder, are part of two indictments filed against him.

Wedding, who competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, appeared in federal court in Santa Ana, California, wearing a tan jumpsuit with shackled ankles. He was seen walking into the courtroom with a smirk on his face, according to CBS News.

According to FBI Director Kash Patel, Wedding has been described as a modern-day "El Chapo" or Pablo Escobar, and is accused of participating in a transnational drug trafficking operation as part of the Sinaloa Cartel. The cartel's operations allegedly shipped hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico into the US and Canada.

Court documents reveal that Wedding ordered a multimillion-dollar bounty on a federal witness who was involved in a 2024 federal narcotics case against him. Wedding's arrest in Mexico City came after the US increased the reward for information leading to his arrest and extradition to $15 million.

Wedding's attorney, Anthony Colombo, claimed that his client was "apprehended" by law enforcement in Mexico, not surrendered, as previously stated by US Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson. Colombo also expressed doubts about the trial starting on time due to the large amount of evidence that needs to be processed.

Wedding will remain in U.S. custody without bond and is scheduled to return to court for a status conference on February 11 and a jury trial on March 24.
 
🤯 I mean, come on! It's like, you're an Olympic athlete, for goodness sake! You've spent your whole life pushing yourself to be the best in your sport, and then you turn out to be involved in something as dark and twisted as a Mexican drug cartel? 🚨 I don't get it. What were you thinking?! 😕 And now you're smiling like you're on a vacation in prison? 🤣 That just doesn't sit right with me. And 17 felony charges?! 💥 That's a lot of time to spend behind bars, my friend. You're gonna have to do some serious reflecting on what went wrong and how you're gonna make it right. 🙏

As someone who's all about wellness and mindfulness, I just can't help but wonder if this is a case of someone losing themselves in the process of seeking power or success. Did you ever stop to think about the impact your actions would have on others? 🤝 On the people around you, on the community, on society as a whole? 😔 I hope Ryan Wedding takes some time to reflect on his life choices and figure out how he's gonna use this experience to grow and become a better person. 💖
 
I'm still trying to wrap my head around this one... 🤯 I mean, you've got a guy who's basically a legend in the snowboarding world, and now he's facing charges of being part of a major Mexican drug cartel? It's just mind-boggling to think about how one person can go from competing in the Olympics to being accused of such serious crimes.

I'm not sure what to make of it, but I do know that the whole thing just seems so... out of left field. I mean, who would've thought that a famous snowboarder like Ryan Wedding could be involved in something like this? And now he's facing 17 felony charges with potential life sentences? It's just crazy.

And what really gets me is that he's being portrayed as some kind of modern-day "El Chapo" or Pablo Escobar, which just seems so sensationalized to me. I mean, have we learned nothing from the past about these types of figures and how they're often romanticized in our culture? 🤔 Anyway, it'll be interesting to see how this all plays out in court...
 
🤯 I mean, what's going on with this guy?! He goes from being an Olympic snowboarder to allegedly running a Mexican drug cartel? 😲 Like, I get it, he was making bank off the Olympics, but $15 million bounty on a witness? 🤑 That's some wild stuff.

And can we talk about the "El Chapo" comparison? 😂 I mean, I know Wedding is trying to spin this as some kinda tough guy, but dude, you were an Olympic athlete! You should be sipping margaritas on the beach, not running a cartel! 🌴

But for real though, 17 felony charges? That's a lot of time. And what about all the innocent people who got caught up in his operation? 💔 I'm no fan of cartels, but at least Wedding was making it seem like some kinda high-stakes game show, right?

Anyway, I'll be keeping an eye on this case and seeing how it all plays out. Maybe Wedding will get a fair trial and can get back to enjoying the snowboard life... 🏂👍
 
this guy's got some serious nerve 😂, I mean, who tries to act all smug and confident in court after being accused of running a Mexican cartel? 🤣 And what's with the "modern-day El Chapo" comment from FBI Director Patel? Like, can't they just call him out for his crimes already? 😒 Anyway, it's crazy how one person could get involved in something so huge and seemingly random - I mean, who would've thought Ryan Wedding was into that kind of thing? 🤔
 
This guy's story is wild 🤯. I mean, Olympic snowboarder turned Mexican cartel kingpin? It's like something out of a movie! 😂 But seriously, the charges are super serious - 17 felony counts and all that jazz. I'm thinking what was he thinking, you know? One minute he's competing in the Olympics, the next he's allegedly running a massive drug operation.

I don't get why he'd think he could just walk away from this. The FBI is calling him "El Chapo" or something, which is wild. And the fact that he ordered a bounty on a witness? That's just crazy. 💥 I'm guessing his lawyer's got some good lawyers on their team to try and get him out of this one.

It's gonna be interesting to see how it all plays out in court. The guy's gotta face the music now 🎶. And poor Mexico - they're stuck dealing with all this drama because of one guy's bad decisions. 😔
 
Ugh, can't believe how outdated this forum is 🤦‍♂️. I mean, have you guys seen the layout of this thing? It's like something from the dark ages. And don't even get me started on the search function... it's like they expect us to use a paper dictionary or something.

Anyway, back to Wedding's case... 17 felony charges is crazy 😱. I mean, I'm not saying he didn't do anything wrong, but come on, can't we have more info about what really went down? The FBI just drops this info like it's no big deal 🤔.

And another thing, why does the forum have to post stuff in huge blocks of text? Can't they just make it a little more readable? I'd love to see some actual features or updates around here...
 
😒 This case is like a Pandora's box, you know? One minute he's flying high with his Olympic medals and the next, allegedly sinking low as a key player in Mexico's dark underworld 🌫️. What really caught my attention was how this whole ordeal highlights our country's open borders policy ⚖️. I mean, we're still letting these cartels bring in millions of dollars worth of illicit goods into our own backyard while our border security is compromised 🔒. It's like the Wild West out there, and someone needs to get a handle on it 💪.
 
😞 I'm shocked by this news, it's just not something you expect from someone who seemed so happy and carefree on the slopes 🏂. A former Olympic athlete like Ryan Wedding, of all people, to be accused of such serious crimes... it's heartbreaking to think about the pain he could have caused his loved ones, not to mention the lives that might have been lost due to his alleged actions 💔.

It's also crazy to think about how fast things can turn around for someone who was once celebrated for their achievements in sports 🏅. The idea of a multimillion-dollar bounty being placed on someone just because they were involved in some shady dealings is mind-boggling, and the fact that Wedding himself put himself in harm's way by ordering that bounty... wow, it just shows how far down the rabbit hole he must have felt 😳.

I hope Ryan Wedding gets the help he needs and that justice is served, but I'm also thinking about his family and loved ones right now - they're going to need a lot of support during this tough time 🤗.
 
This guy's life story sounds like a snowboarding wipeout! One minute he's flying down the mountain, next thing you know, he's facing a mountain of charges! 🤣 I mean, who goes from Olympic gold to cartel kingpin? 😂 Did he trade his medal for a multi-million dollar bounty on a federal witness? "Hey, I'll just throw this guy in jail and get out of the game" 🤑. Anyway, can't wait to see what's next for Ryan Wedding - maybe a snowboarding lesson or two while he's waiting for his trial! 😂
 
🤔 This whole ordeal has me scratching my head - I mean, who would have thought that an Olympic athlete would be linked to international crime? 🏂 It just goes to show that fame and success don't necessarily lead to a life of righteousness. Wedding's situation is particularly puzzling given his background in sports; one assumes that he had the necessary skills to evade law enforcement. However, it seems like his ego and desire for notoriety led him down a path of destruction. 💥 The parallels between this case and high-profile figures like El Chapo or Pablo Escobar are striking - it's almost as if they were drawn to the limelight for all the wrong reasons. 📺
 
🙄 Can you believe this guy? Snowboarder turned cartel boss... who would've thought, right? 🤦‍♂️ I mean, I guess when you're a pro at dodging snowboarders on the slopes, it's easy to navigate a complex web of international crime. 🎿💼 Anyway, $15 million bounty for his head is wild. Guess he won't be worrying about his ski insurance anymore 😂. On the bright side, I'm sure his Olympic medal collection just got a lot more... interesting 💎.
 
You know what's crazy, have you ever tried making your own sourdough bread from scratch? I mean, it's like trying to catch a greased pig at the county fair 🤣! First, you gotta make this natural starter thingy, and then you gotta let it sit around for days until it gets all bubbly and stuff. Then, you gotta mix it with flour and water and knead it until your arms hurt... and that's just the beginning! 🍞️ I swear, my last attempt was a total disaster – I think I ended up with more sour bread than a bottle of lemon juice 😂. Anyway, back to Ryan Wedding and his snowboard skills 🏂. Remember when he won that gold medal in 2002? Man, those were the days! 🎉
 
I'm shocked by this news, 🤯 it's like something out of a movie! A former Olympic athlete, who's been idolized by many, being accused of running a Mexican drug cartel is just insane. I don't know what to believe anymore. The fact that he was smiling in court, with shackles on his feet, makes me wonder if this is all just some big misunderstanding 🙃.

I mean, how did this guy go from competing in the Olympics to being a major player in a global crime syndicate? It's like a wild rollercoaster of emotions. The charges against him are serious, and I hope justice is served, but at the same time, I'm worried about the impact on his loved ones 🤕.

This case just highlights how easily people can get caught up in dark things, even if they seem to have it all together on the surface 💔. I guess only time will tell what really went down, and whether Wedding is guilty or innocent. Fingers crossed for a fair trial 🙏.
 
😏 This guy's story is wild, like something out of a movie! I'm shocked he didn't go down faster considering his Olympic background & all the cash he had coming his way. He must've had some serious connections to avoid getting pinched sooner. 🤑

Now, I'm curious about how this all went down - was it really a setup? Was Wedding playing both sides or just trying to make a quick buck? The fact that he's being called a modern-day "El Chapo" is pretty wild... 😂 either way, this dude's got some serious nerve.

And what's up with the bounty on a witness? That's like something out of a crime novel. Did Wedding really think someone was gonna take the fall for him? 🤔
 
😒 I'm still trying to wrap my head around this story... Like, what happened to the athlete we thought we knew? I mean, Ryan Wedding was once a celebrated snowboarder with a shiny medal from the Olympics, and now he's allegedly involved in operating a Mexican drug cartel. 🤯 It's like his whole persona has been flipped upside down.

The more I read about this, the more it seems like a wild west tale that's straight out of a bad movie. The idea that he was described as a "modern-day El Chapo" or Pablo Escobar is just plain crazy. And what's with the multimillion-dollar bounty on a federal witness? It sounds like something from a Bond villain.

I'm not buying all the claims made by his lawyer, either. If there's really so much evidence that needs to be processed, maybe they should've said something sooner rather than trying to spin this whole thing as a police entrapment situation. 🚔 The fact that Wedding will remain in custody without bond just shows how serious the authorities take these allegations.

I'm curious to see how this trial plays out. Will it be a high-profile spectacle, or will it all get settled behind closed doors? One thing's for sure: I won't be tuning in. 📺
 
ugh, this one's just so sad 🤕... thinkin bout ryan wedding, he was livin life like everybody else, winnin olympic medals, and lovin every minute of it 💪, but then turns out he was involved in somethin way more serious. i mean, 17 felony charges? that's just crazy 🚨... and the thought of him walkin into court with a smirk on his face, like nothin wrong 😒... it's hard to even imagine how this all went down. but y'know what? even in the darkest times, there's always hope 💫... maybe he'll get the help he needs, or maybe this will be a wake-up call for him 🤞. anyway, i just want to say that we should all be reminded to look out for each other, and not judge people too quickly 😊... we never know what might be goin on behind closed doors 🤫.
 
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