Three Charged with Conspiracy
to Distribute Cocaine
United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt
announced that Michael Krapchan, Hassan Shirani, and
Ryan Wedding were arraigned today in federal court
in San Diego before Magistrate Judge Nita L. Stormes
on a one-count indictment charging them with narcotics
violations.
The indictment charges Krapchan, Shirani and Wedding
with conspiracy to distribute approximately 24 kilograms
of cocaine, a felony. All three defendants are Canadian
citizens; Wedding was a member of the 2002 Canadian
Olympic Snowboarding Team.
According to Assistant United States Attorney Orlando
B. Gutierrez, who is prosecuting the case, the defendants
were previously arraigned on a criminal complaint that
charged them with conspiracy to possess cocaine with
intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine. The
complaint was superseded by today’s indictment.
The defendants are next scheduled to be in court for
a motions/trial setting hearing on August 15, 2008
at 9:00 a.m., before United States District Judge Jeffrey
T. Miller.
DEFENDANTS (Criminal Case No. 08cr2386JM)
Michael Krapchan
Hassan Shirani
Ryan Wedding
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and
846 Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine
The alleged crime
carries a maximum custodial sentence of life imprisonment,
a five-year term of supervised
release, a maximum fine of four million dollars and
a mandatory special assessment of one hundred dollars.
AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
An indictment itself is not evidence that the defendants
committed the crimes charged. The defendants are presumed
innocent until the Government meets its burden in court
of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
