Canadian Lawyer Arrested in Shocking Connection to Olympian’s Murder-for-Hire Plot

In a startling turn of events that reads like the plot of a crime thriller, prominent Canadian defense attorney Deepak Paradkar has been arrested as part of an FBI investigation into former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding. The FBI and Department of Justice announced Wednesday that Paradkar allegedly crossed the line from legal representation to criminal conspiracy by advising Wedding to have a witness killed to get charges dismissed. U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli didn’t mince words at the press conference, stating bluntly: “His lawyer advised him to kill this witness. His lawyer told him, ‘If you kill this witness, the case would be dismissed.'” This shocking betrayal of legal ethics has led to Paradkar’s arrest and pending extradition to face justice in the United States, where he’ll answer for his alleged role in a sprawling international drug trafficking operation.

The indictment against Paradkar reveals disturbing details about his alleged criminal activities. Beyond simply advising Wedding about witness elimination, Paradkar allegedly allowed Wedding’s accomplice Andrew Clark to “covertly” listen in on privileged conversations with other clients—several of whom Wedding wanted dead. The U.S. Department of the Treasury, which issued separate sanctions against Paradkar, accused him of providing “a range of illegal services to Wedding and his drug trafficking organization beyond the scope of a normal attorney-client relationship.” These services reportedly included introducing Wedding to drug traffickers, assisting with bribery schemes, and discussing murder plots. According to officials, Wedding rewarded Paradkar’s illegal services with luxury watches and additional fees, creating a corrupt partnership that violated the fundamental ethical principles of the legal profession.

The consequences of this alleged conspiracy proved deadly. According to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Wedding followed through on the plot by publishing photographs of a federal witness online on a website called “The Dirty News” after being indicted in 2024. This action effectively placed a bounty on the witness’s head, and on January 31, the witness was shot dead at a restaurant in Medellín, Colombia. Wedding apparently believed this murder would lead to the dismissal of charges against him and his drug trafficking organization—advice allegedly stemming from his attorney, Paradkar. The shocking murder demonstrates how Wedding’s organization operated with calculated violence to protect its criminal enterprise, with apparent legal guidance supporting these deadly decisions.

Ryan Wedding, now one of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives with a $15 million reward for his capture, represents an extraordinary fall from Olympic glory to alleged criminal kingpin. The 44-year-old former Canadian Olympic snowboarder competed in the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, finishing 24th in men’s parallel giant slalom—his only Olympic appearance after missing the 1998 Games. This seemingly ordinary athletic career masks what authorities describe as an “extremely violent criminal believed to be responsible for the murder of numerous people abroad.” Wedding allegedly transformed from Olympian to the head of a massive drug trafficking operation moving tons of cocaine through Colombia and Mexico for distribution in the U.S. and Canada, using cryptocurrency to conceal his wealth and ordering dozens of murders across multiple countries to maintain control of his criminal empire.

The case against Wedding extends beyond the witness murder, implicating him in multiple brutal killings. According to the FBI and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Wedding and Clark allegedly coordinated a November 2023 double homicide in Ontario that killed an innocent couple in a case of mistaken identity. They’re also accused of arranging another murder in May over an unpaid drug debt. These allegations paint a picture of a ruthless criminal organization willing to eliminate anyone perceived as a threat or liability. The charges against Wedding, including murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise, witness tampering, and witness retaliation, carry mandatory minimum penalties of life in federal prison—a dramatic contrast to his former life as an Olympic athlete representing his country on the world stage.

This case highlights the disturbing reality of how legitimate professionals can become entangled in criminal enterprises, blurring the lines between legal representation and criminal conspiracy. Paradkar, whose job was to uphold the law while defending his clients within its boundaries, allegedly became an active participant in criminal activities—facilitating murder plots, enabling drug trafficking, and betraying the confidentiality of his own clients. The investigation continues as authorities work to bring Wedding to justice, with the former Olympian still at large despite the massive reward for information leading to his capture. What began as a drug trafficking investigation has exposed a complex web of corruption reaching into legal circles, demonstrating how criminal organizations can infiltrate and compromise various sectors of society. As this case moves forward, it serves as a sobering reminder of how the pursuit of power and profit can corrupt even those sworn to uphold justice.