E. Martin Estrada, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California
An alleged leader of a transnational drug trafficking organization, Andrew Clark, has been extradited from Mexico to the United States to face federal charges. The Justice Department announced that Clark, 34, is accused of running a criminal enterprise alongside former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding. The charges include murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to possess, distribute, and export cocaine.
Clark was arrested by Mexican authorities in October 2024 and will be arraigned in the United States District Court in Phoenix on Monday. He faces a 16-count superseding indictment from the Central District of California. It is alleged that Clark and Wedding managed a billion-dollar drug operation with routes transporting cocaine from Colombia to Canada via Mexico and Southern California.
Between March and August 2024, it is claimed that Clark and Wedding conspired with others to handle over 1,800 kilograms of cocaine. Additionally, they allegedly used virtual currency wallets to transfer approximately $250 million between April and September 2024. Investigators reportedly seized more than $3 million from one cryptocurrency wallet in a single day.
Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally stated: “The defendant, as described in the superseding indictment, played a key role in running a violent international drug trafficking organization that was responsible for multiple murders.” He emphasized the importance of global law enforcement cooperation.
The indictment also accuses Clark and Wedding of orchestrating several murders in Ontario, Canada. They are charged with directing the November 20, 2023 murders of two individuals and attempting to murder another victim. Further allegations include ordering another murder on May 18, 2024, and being involved in an April 1 killing.
Clark is among sixteen defendants named in the indictment; eight have been arraigned so far. His co-conspirators' trial is set for May 6.
The legal proceedings underscore that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt. If convicted on certain charges like continuing criminal enterprise or murder-related offenses, Clark could face life imprisonment or substantial mandatory minimum sentences.
This case resulted from investigations by multiple agencies including the FBI, Los Angeles Police Department, DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division along with Canadian partners such as Royal Canadian Mounted Police – Federal Policing among others internationally involved.
Prosecutors Lyndsi Allsop and Maria Jhai from Violent & Organized Crime Section along with Ryan Waters focusing on Asset Forfeiture & Recovery Section lead this prosecution supported significantly by Justice Department’s Office International Affairs under OCDETF initiative aimed at dismantling top-tier criminal networks threatening U.S interests using intelligence-driven strategies coordinated across agencies globally.
