A federal prosecutor in Ontario’s court revealed that Rolan Sokolovski played a significant role as the “third in command” in Ryan Wedding’s alleged cross-border criminal ring. This marks the first time Sokolovski, a jeweler from Toronto who was arrested in November, has been identified as a key figure in the drug-trafficking network.
During a court session in Toronto, Sokolovski’s legal team argued that he would not pose a risk of fleeing if granted bail. The charges against him involve extradition to California for federal conspiracy charges related to money laundering and cocaine trafficking. The U.S. authorities have previously alleged that Sokolovski was a major money launderer and the main financial hub for Wedding’s criminal organization, which reportedly generated around $1 billion in annual revenues.
In a bail hearing, Department of Justice (DOJ) Canada lawyer Heather Graham described Sokolovski as the pivotal figure handling the finances of the criminal group. She mentioned that Sokolovski could be considered as the right-hand man to Andrew Clark, who was described as Wedding’s second-in-command and was apprehended in Mexico in 2024.
Sokolovski’s defense attorney, Scott Fenton, emphasized in court that the accusations against his client remain unproven. Fenton refuted the characterization of Sokolovski as Wedding’s third-in-command, labeling it as a mere rhetorical statement lacking substantial evidence. The decision on Sokolovski’s bail plea is expected to be made on February 20.
According to court documents, Sokolovski is accused of laundering substantial amounts of money for the Wedding criminal enterprise and designing a lavish necklace for an alleged hitman associated with Wedding’s network. The prosecutors highlighted a text message exchange from October 2024 between Clark and Sokolovski, indicating Sokolovski’s control over the cryptocurrency wallets of multiple co-conspirators.
The U.S. Department of Justice raised concerns about Sokolovski being a flight risk due to his alleged access to significant financial assets. Sokolovski’s legal team proposed stringent bail conditions, including house arrest with GPS monitoring, residing with appointed sureties, surrendering his passport, and refraining from communicating with his co-accused.
Ryan Wedding, a former Team Canada snowboarder, is currently on the FBI’s most-wanted list for allegedly orchestrating a billion-dollar drug trafficking network. Wedding and his associates are accused of smuggling large quantities of cocaine from Colombia to Canada through Mexico and the U.S. Additionally, they are alleged to have ordered hits on individuals perceived as threats to their criminal operations.