The FBI arrested former Olympic snowboarder Ryan James Wedding ceremony, who’s accused of working a crypto-backed cocaine trafficking operation.
Prosecutors say his community used Tether (USDT) to maneuver drug proceeds throughout borders.
Wedding ceremony is now being dropped at the U.S. from Mexico to face trial.
The FBI introduced Friday that it has arrested Ryan James Wedding ceremony, a wished fugitive and former Olympic snowboarder accused of working a drug-smuggling empire backed by crypto.
Wedding ceremony, a Canadian nationwide, was accused in 2024 by the U.S. Division of Justice of managing a cocaine trafficking operation working from Colombia, by Mexico, and into the USA. Wedding ceremony and his enterprise companions additionally orchestrated quite a few murders as a part of that operation, the prosecutors alleged.
The DOJ and the Treasury Division have claimed that Wedding ceremony and his staff relied on the stablecoin Tether (USDT) to gasoline their actions. Drug runners would use QR codes to obtain cost for cocaine in USDT, the grievance towards Wedding ceremony alleged.
The previous snowboarder, who represented Canada on the 2002 Winter Olympics, was lengthy considered hiding in Mexico. After greater than a 12 months of pursuit, Wedding ceremony was arrested within the nation final night time, FBI Director Kash Patel mentioned Friday.
“This can be a enormous day for a safer North America, and the world, and a message that those that break our legal guidelines and hurt our residents might be dropped at justice,” Patel mentioned.
Because of President Trump’s management and dedication to international legislation enforcement – as of this morning, the DOJ/FBI formally apprehended our SIXTH Prime Ten Most Wished Fugitive throughout the final 12 months. Thanks to @AGPamBondi for her relentless pursuit of justice, the US Lawyer’s… pic.twitter.com/fnSP4IXQRI
The FBI director added that Wedding ceremony is presently being transported by the FBI to the USA to face trial.
In late 2024, the DOJ seized one ton of cocaine, $3.2 million value of crypto, and a number of firearms related to Wedding ceremony and his alleged drug working scheme.
Shortly thereafter, the Treasury Division sanctioned the ex-Olympian, a number of of his associates, and associated entities. These included a Toronto jewellery enterprise which the Treasury Division claimed was used as a entrance to launder crypto earned from cocaine gross sales.
Capturing Wedding ceremony, one of many FBI’s high 10 most wished fugitives, has lengthy been an company precedence. The FBI first supplied a $10 million reward for data resulting in the fugitive’s arrest. That quantity was later raised to $15 million.
It’s not but clear if data from the bounty program led to Wedding ceremony’s arrest, or if the money reward might be paid. An FBI spokesperson didn’t instantly reply to Decrypt’s request for touch upon the matter.
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