A fugitive accused of stealing more than $600,000 in federal food stamp benefits has been brought back to the United States after being arrested in India last month, FBI Director Kash Patel announced.
Manjit Singh Bedi, listed among the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters, faces federal charges tied to an alleged Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fraud operation at a grocery store in Tacoma, Washington.
“BACK IN THE US – Manjit Singh Bedi, one of the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters, arrested in September in India,” Patel wrote on X.
Patel described Bedi’s return as the latest achievement in the FBI’s efforts to bring wanted fugitives back to the United States.
“This is the latest in an unprecedented stretch of success in bringing high-value targets back to the United States through strong partnerships with our foreign law enforcement counterparts,” Patel said.
“Over the past 20 months, we’ve secured 260 extraditions and removals — an increase of more than 70% compared to the previous 20-month period,” he added.
Federal officials allege that Bedi defrauded the U.S. government of at least $600,000 through a SNAP fraud scheme conducted between March 2024 and June 2025 while he operated an Asian grocery store in Tacoma.
According to the FBI, Bedi allegedly took SNAP recipients’ Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, exchanged their benefits for cash instead of eligible food items and kept about half of the benefits for himself.
After his indictment in the case, Bedi allegedly drove to Canada and later fled to India.
A federal arrest warrant accusing him of violating the terms of his release was issued on May 21, 2026.
Patel said Bedi is the sixth fugitive captured through the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters program since the list was launched three months ago.
“This marks yet another significant moment for the historic FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters program,” Patel said.
Bedi, a naturalized U.S. citizen, had been the subject of an FBI reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
Patel said Bedi will now face justice in the United States over the alleged fraud.
“Thank you to our outstanding partners for their assistance in this case,” Patel wrote.
