U.S. authorities have charged former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan James Wedding and 15 others for their alleged involvement in a cocaine trafficking operation that utilized Tether (USDT) to facilitate transactions. The Department of Justice filed an indictment revealing that the gang imported cocaine from Colombia, shipping it through Mexico into the U.S. and Canada while committing multiple murders along the way. According to the indictment, payments were made in USDT and QR codes were used to process these transactions, underscoring the role of cryptocurrency in their illegal activities. Law enforcement has seized over $3.2 million in crypto, more than a ton of cocaine, and other firearms during the investigation. Wedding, who previously served time for attempted drug purchase, is currently on the run, with the FBI offering a reward for his capture. The case highlights the intersection of athletic fame and criminal activity, particularly how digital currencies are exploited in drug trafficking schemes.

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