A former Olympic snowboarder, now a fugitive on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list, is facing new and severe charges, including murder for hire and witness intimidation, in connection with what authorities describe as a massive international drug trafficking network.
Federal prosecutors announced the additional charges this week, alleging the athlete ordered the assassination of a witness in Colombia who was prepared to testify against him in a U.S. court. The witness was fatally shot earlier this year before he could provide testimony.
According to the federal indictment, the suspect’s organization is accused of collaborating with a major foreign cartel to smuggle enormous quantities of cocaine—estimated at roughly 60 metric tons annually—from South America, through Mexico, and into distribution hubs in the United States and Canada. The operation is alleged to have utilized commercial trucking routes for transport.
Prosecutors detailed a sophisticated effort to locate the witness, alleging the fugitive used an online platform to publish photographs of the individual and his spouse. This tactic, officials claim, directly led to the witness being found and killed at a restaurant in Medellín.
In addition to murder and witness intimidation, the new charges include money laundering and narcotics trafficking. The investigation has so far led to indictments against more than three dozen individuals allegedly linked to the ring. Law enforcement reports seizing thousands of kilograms of cocaine, numerous weapons, and millions of dollars in both physical assets and cryptocurrency.
A substantial reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the former Olympian, who is believed to be receiving protection from cartel associates and remains at large. Authorities have vowed to continue their pursuit until the network is fully dismantled.
