Mexican judge accused of taking $2M bribe to release Ryan Wedding’s right-hand man

Officials in the United States say a Mexican judge has been arrested on allegations that he accepted a $2-million bribe in exchange for granting bail to a man accused of acting as second-in-command to Ryan Wedding, the former Canadian Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug kingpin.

The U.S. Department of Justice says Luis Benitez Alcantara is accused of using his official position to secure the release of Andrew Clark, a 36-year-old Canadian man alleged to play a key role in a violent international drug trafficking ring.

U.S. officials say Benitez Alcantara, 49, was arrested on Sunday in Colombia and a request will be made for his extradition.

They say he was arrested on a nine-count federal indictment and, if convicted, could face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison for each count.