Deepak Paradkar
Deepak Paradkar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1963 (age 61–62) |
| Occupation | lawyer |
| Known for | giving a suspected drug lord advice to murder a witness |
Deepak Paradkar is a Canadian lawyer best known for his association with alleged drug lord Ryan Wedding.[1] He is alleged to have given Wedding advice on murdering one of the witnesses against him, Jonathan Acebedo-Garcia.[2] He is also accused of providing Wedding with copies of court documents that he would not otherwise have been able to see.
The witness was shot, in Medellín, Colombia, on January 31, 2025.[1] He died instantly after being shot five time.
Paradkar faces extradition to the United States.[3] If convicted he could receive a life sentence.
On December 23, 2025, CBC News reported Paradkar would be released after posting bail of $5.25 million CAD.[3] His license to practice law has been suspended. Law enforcement officials argued against a release on bail, on the grounds Wedding may see him as a liability, and have him killed too.[4]
Law enforcement officials have cited messages exchanged between Paradkar and his alleged boss Ryan Wedding, and the organization's second in command, Andrew Clark.[4] In those messages they referred to Paradkar as "Cocaine Lawyer"
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1
Aaron D'Andrea (2025-11-20). "7 Canadians tied to Ryan Wedding arrested and charged. Who are they?". Global News. Archived from the original on 2025-11-22. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
In it, officials allege Paradkar advised Wedding to murder the key witness so that he and Andrew Clark, his reported second-in-command, would avoid extradition from Mexico on criminal charges against them.
- ↑
Nadine Yousif (2025-11-21). "How a flashy lawyer and an alleged Canadian drug lord may have taken down an FBI witness". BBC Home. Archived from the original on 2025-11-24.
Months before an FBI witness was gunned down in broad daylight, a Toronto-area lawyer allegedly advised his client: "if you kill this witness, the case will be dismissed".
- ↑ 3.0 3.1
Olivia Piercey (2025-12-23). "Ontario lawyer linked to alleged Ryan Wedding drug ring granted bail for $5M". CBC News. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
The alleged “cocaine lawyer” was arrested in November and is facing extradition to the U.S. where he could receive a life sentence if he is convicted of charges including conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to retaliate against a witness.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1
Thomas Daigle (2025-12-12). "'Cocaine lawyer' linked to fugitive Ryan Wedding could be killed if granted bail, court told". CBC News. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
Wedding’s network “is highly motivated” to prevent Paradkar from standing trial in California, Graham told Ontario Superior Court Justice Peter Bawden. 'There’s no telling what would happen to him, his family, anyone connected to him.'