Canadian jeweller accused of laundering money for ex-Olympian Ryan Wedding faces extradition to U.S.
A 38-year-old Canadian jeweller, Rolan Sokolovski, has been accused of money laundering in connection with a drug cartel network led by a former Canadian Olympian led by Ryan Wedding.
The local jeweller was arrested in November 2025 alongside other suspects in connection with the drug organisations and consented to being extradited to the U.S. after a court hearing on Tuesday.
Prosecutors alleged that he served as a “de facto bank” using his business Diamond Tsar to launder money and also using cryptocurrency platforms to launder money and luxurious assets for the drug network.
Mr Sokolovski was charged by the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles with conspiracy to money laundering and drug trafficking.
His attorney said the allegations against Mr Sokolovski would be contested in California to presume him innocent.
However, for the case to proceed the federal minister of justice must decide whether the defendant will formally surrender to the U.S. authorities.
Since 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice has indicted at least 34 individuals in connection with the drug organisation that rafficked tonnes of cocaine and fentanyl across North America.
Mr Wedding, the alleged leader of the organisation, had been on the run but was arrested in Mexico in January and was immediately transferred to custody in California.
Two other individuals have also been fighting extradition on the alleged crimes
Among the individuals are Guesewak Singh Bal, a Canadian crime blogger who faces federal charges and set to commence his extradition hearing on December 10.
A lawyer, Deepak Parader, also faces charges serving as a high-level fixer for Mr Wedding and the organisation.
The attorney challenged the allegations with the Court of Appeal in Ontario denying a bid to overturn his release on bail.
Mr Wedding is set to stand two trials set to begin on October 27.
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