The U.S. Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on Ryan James Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder and one of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives. This action, announced today, involves sanctions against nine individuals and nine entities associated with Wedding, who is accused of serious crimes including drug trafficking and murder.
Treasury Sanctions Ryan Wedding: Key Information
Ryan Wedding competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics for Canada. He is currently a fugitive, believed to be hiding in Mexico while directing drug trafficking operations. The Treasury’s sanctions are part of a coordinated action with U.S. law enforcement agencies including the FBI and the Department of Justice.
Criminal Activities of Ryan Wedding
- Involved in multi-ton cocaine trafficking through Colombia and Mexico.
- Responsible for orchestrating numerous murders globally, including in the U.S. and Canada.
- Utilizes cryptocurrency to launder drug proceeds and conceal illegal gains.
Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, John K. Hurley, stated that the objective is to dismantle Wedding’s criminal network and prevent him from profiting from his illegal activities.
Associates and Criminal Network
Several individuals have been linked to Wedding’s organization:
- Edgar Aaron Vazquez Alvarado: Known as “the General,” he provides protection and intelligence within Mexico.
- Miryam Andrea Castillo Moreno: Wedding’s wife, accused of laundering drug money and facilitating violence.
- Carmen Yelinet Valoyes Florez: A Colombian involved in prostitution and linked to the murder of a federal witness.
- Deepak Balwant Paradkar: A Canadian lawyer providing illegal services for Wedding’s operations.
Financial Operations and Money Laundering
Wedding has established a complex financial network for laundering his illicit profits. This includes:
- Utilizing businesses such as Rolan Sokolovski’s jewelry company, “Diamond Tsar,” for laundering operations.
- Employing Gianluca Tiepolo to manage assets and conceal property obtained through drug trafficking.
Sokolovski has facilitated moving millions in drug proceeds using cryptocurrency, while Tiepolo manages high-value assets, making it difficult for authorities to trace Wedding’s wealth.
Sanctions and Legal Implications
The sanctions mean that all property and interests in property belonging to Wedding and those associated with him are blocked in the U.S. Violations of these sanctions can result in civil or criminal penalties.
In addition, the U.S. State Department has increased the reward for information leading to Wedding’s capture from $10 million to $15 million. This targeted approach aims to bring Wedding and his associates to justice and disrupt ongoing criminal activities.
The continuing efforts by U.S. authorities illustrate a commitment to combating drug trafficking and the violence associated with it, ensuring that criminals like Ryan Wedding face significant consequences.
