Montreal Man Arrested for Allegedly Aiding Ryan Wedding in Informant's Death
A Montreal man has been arrested in the United States for allegedly helping former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding track down a federal informant who was later killed, according to authorities.
Tommy Demorizi, 35, was taken into custody on Monday at Newark Liberty International Airport after arriving on a flight from the Dominican Republic, the Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed. U.S. prosecutors had previously indicated they believed he was hiding in that country.
Allegations in the Case
Demorizi is accused of assisting Wedding's organization in locating Jonathan Acebedo Garcia, a Montreal resident who was working as an FBI informant. The allegations state that Demorizi paid a Montreal-based reggaeton DJ up to $1,000 for Garcia's contact information after associates recognized him in a music video.
Acebedo Garcia was shot and killed in Medellín, Colombia, on January 31, 2025. His cooperation with authorities was reportedly central to the investigation into Wedding's alleged drug-trafficking network, providing intelligence on encrypted communications, drug-smuggling routes, and meetings involving key figures across multiple countries.
Background on Ryan Wedding
Ryan Wedding, 44, previously represented Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City as a snowboarder. Prosecutors allege he later built a sprawling cocaine-trafficking network with roots in Montreal. FBI Director Kash Patel has compared him to notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar.
Wedding was arrested last month in Mexico City and extradited to the United States. He has pleaded not guilty to charges related to drug trafficking and the killing of a federal witness, with his trial scheduled for later this summer.
Expanding Investigation
Demorizi's arrest brings the total number of people charged in this case to 37. U.S. officials describe the investigation as centering on a transnational drug-trafficking network with deep ties to Canada.
In October 2024, the U.S. Justice Department unsealed an indictment charging 16 defendants linked to the Wedding organization and alleging at least four murders tied to the drug-smuggling operation. Authorities also announced the arrest at that time of Wedding's alleged second-in-command, Andrew Clark, a 34-year-old former elevator mechanic from Toronto.
Bounty on Informant
According to court documents, when Wedding learned of Acebedo Garcia's cooperation with authorities while still at large, he placed a $5-million bounty on the informant. He allegedly enlisted multiple intermediaries—including Demorizi—to locate him.
The case continues to develop as prosecutors prepare for Wedding's trial and pursue additional charges against alleged members of the trafficking network.
