A federal prosecutor in Ontario court has stated that Rolan Sokolovski played a significant role as the “third in command” in Ryan Wedding’s alleged international criminal network. This marks the first instance where Sokolovski, a jeweller from Toronto who was arrested in November, has been identified as a key figure in the drug trafficking operation.
During a court session in Toronto, Sokolovski’s legal team argued that he would not be a flight risk if granted bail. He is facing extradition to California on federal charges related to conspiracy, money laundering, and cocaine trafficking. Previously, U.S. prosecutors have accused Sokolovski of being the main money launderer and acting as a financial hub for Wedding’s criminal enterprise, which is estimated to have generated $1 billion in annual revenue.
In a bail hearing held on Wednesday, Department of Justice (DOJ) lawyer Heather Graham from Canada described the 37-year-old as the “right-hand man” of Andrew Clark, who was identified as Wedding’s second-in-command and was arrested in Mexico in 2024.
According to court documents, Sokolovski is alleged to have laundered hundreds of millions of dollars for Wedding’s criminal network. He is also accused of creating a bejewelled necklace as a reward for Atna Ohna, a Montreal-based alleged hitman for Wedding’s organization, for his involvement in the murder of an FBI witness.
Graham highlighted an October 2024 text message exchange between Clark and Sokolovski, as detailed in an affidavit from RCMP Cpl. Geneviève Laurin. The exchange indicated that Sokolovski had control over the cryptocurrency wallets of multiple co-conspirators.
Sokolovski’s lawyer, Scott Fenton, emphasized in court that the allegations against his client have not been substantiated and that Sokolovski is not a flight risk. Fenton disputed the Crown’s characterization of his client as Wedding’s third-in-command, calling it a “rhetorical flourish” without supporting evidence.
The judge is expected to make a decision on Sokolovski’s bail application on February 20. Sokolovski is among eight Canadians arrested in November as part of an investigation targeting Ryan Wedding, a former Team Canada snowboarder now accused of leading a billion-dollar drug trafficking ring.
The U.S. Department of Justice raised concerns about Sokolovski posing a flight risk and a danger to the public due to his alleged access to significant assets, including cryptocurrency and physical assets. Sokolovski’s legal team has proposed stringent bail conditions, including house arrest with GPS monitoring and restrictions on communication with co-accused individuals.
Wedding, a former Olympian who competed for Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics, has been listed on the FBI’s most-wanted list. His organization is accused of smuggling large quantities of cocaine from Colombia to Canada through Mexico and the U.S., as well as orchestrating targeted killings against perceived threats to its operations.