In October 2024, police in Arkansas stopped two cars carrying more than 500 kg of cocaine headed for Canada. Soon after, leaders of a violent drug cartel began discussing killing anyone who might talk to the police.
According to new court documents from Canada and the US, Ontario lawyer Deepak Paradkar joined a group chat with cartel members and told them to keep messages secret. These documents are part of an extradition case linked to former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding, who the FBI says leads the criminal network.
The evidence against Paradkar comes from an FBI witness and messages found on Andrew Clark's phone, which was seized in Mexico in March 2025. The phone contained a chat called '911 Arkansa' referring to the cocaine seizure. In these chats, Clark told Wedding that Paradkar would handle the situation.
Investigators say Paradkar tried to find the two drivers involved in the cocaine seizure. The cartel believed one of the drivers had begun talking to investigators.
Paradkar, 62, is charged with conspiracy to commit murder, drug trafficking, and trying to tamper with a witness. He is accused of helping the cartel investigate drug seizures and paying other lawyers to find out whether suspects were cooperating with police. In return, he allegedly received cash and expensive watches.
He is one of seven Canadians facing extradition to the U.S., where a conviction could mean life in prison. All allegations have not yet been proven in court.
One of the most serious accusations is that Paradkar told cartel leaders that killing a key witness, Jonathan Acebedo-Garcia, could help collapse the FBI’s case and stop their extradition from Mexico. Acebedo-Garcia was later killed in Colombia in January 2025 after Wedding allegedly offered a reward for his death.
Court filings say Paradkar received a phone call that was used as proof that the witness planned to testify. This phone was allegedly given to him by Atna Ohna, who is also facing charges.
Legal experts say this case shows that attorney-client privilege does not protect conversations that involve planning new crimes or include people who are not the client.
