A Calgary man, Allistair Chapman, who was arrested in connection with alleged drug kingpin Ryan Wedding, is seeking bail. Chapman, 33, is facing extradition to California on charges including conspiracy to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to commit murder, and other offenses. His lawyer, Noel O’Brien, argued in court that Chapman is not a flight risk or a danger to the public and should be granted bail with a $500,000 surety provided by his parents. O’Brien stated that Chapman has strong community ties, no criminal record, and limited access to cash, making it unlikely for him to flee. Chapman’s lawyer emphasized that his client has been in Canada for the past decade and has no connections to any foreign country. The judge is expected to make a decision regarding Chapman’s bail request soon.
Chapman and nine others were arrested as part of an FBI investigation into an international drug trafficking ring allegedly led by Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder from Team Canada who is currently in custody in the United States. U.S. prosecutors have accused Chapman of assisting in the killing of a government informant by providing the informant’s photo to a co-accused and facilitating its online posting to locate the witness before a trial. Despite the serious allegations, O’Brien contended that there is no direct evidence linking Chapman to a murder plot, emphasizing that the charge relates to posting a statement implying the victim was a “snitch or a rat.”
While similar hearings are usually subject to publication bans, neither the Crown nor the defense requested one in this case. O’Brien highlighted that several other co-accused in the case have already been released on bail. The defense lawyer argued that Chapman’s longstanding presence in Canada and lack of ties to other countries support his eligibility for bail.
