Ex-Olympian Ryan Wedding Pleads Not Guilty to 17 Felony Counts

Ryan Wedding pleaded not guilty on Jan. 26, 2026 in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana to 17 felony counts, and U.S. Magistrate John D. Early ordered him held without bond, court records show.

Prosecutors allege Wedding led a transnational network tied to Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel that moved nearly 60 metric tons of cocaine annually and generated more than $1 billion, according to a 2024 indictment.

Mexican Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch said on Jan. 23, 2026 that Wedding surrendered at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, a claim defense attorney Anthony Colombo disputed outside the courthouse, saying, "He was arrested."

Wedding was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list in March 2025 with a $15 million reward, and U.S., Mexican, Canadian, Colombian and Dominican investigators confirmed multinational cooperation in the case.

A status conference is set for Feb. 11, 2026 and a jury trial is scheduled for March 24, 2026, and defense attorney Anthony Colombo said he doubts the March trial will start on time.