FBI returns 'Most Wanted' fraudster to US after India arrest in alleged $600K SNAP food stamp scheme
Manjit Singh Bedi, a naturalized U.S. citizen, is back in American custody after being apprehended abroad on allegations that he stole more than $600,000 in federal food‑stamp benefits.
Federal prosecutors say Bedi ran an Asian grocery store in Tacoma, Washington, where, between March 2024 and June 2025, he allegedly skimmed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. Instead of allowing recipients to purchase eligible groceries, he reportedly gave them cash and kept roughly half of the value for himself. The scheme is said to have deprived the government of at least $600,000.
After being indicted in connection with the fraud, Bedi is alleged to have driven to Canada before continuing on to India. A federal warrant for violating the conditions of his release was issued on May 21, 2026. Indian authorities arrested him in September, and he was subsequently transferred back to the United States.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced the return on his social‑media account, calling Bedi “one of the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters.” Patel emphasized that the capture is part of a broader trend: over the past 20 months the bureau has secured 260 extraditions or removals, a rise of more than 70 % compared with the preceding 20‑month span. He noted that Bedi is the sixth fugitive taken into custody since the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters list was launched three months ago.
Before his arrest, the FBI had offered a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to Bedi’s apprehension and conviction. Patel thanked the international law‑enforcement partners whose cooperation made the transfer possible and said Bedi will now face the U.S. justice system for the alleged crimes.
The case underscores the government’s effort to combat SNAP fraud, a program intended to assist low‑income families with food purchases. Officials continue to investigate whether any other individuals were involved in the Tacoma‑based operation.
