Man wanted in massive food stamp fraud case arrested, returned to US

A man listed among the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters was arrested in India and returned to the United States to face charges.

Manjit Singh Bedi, a naturalized U.S. citizen, was taken into custody in India in September and extradited. He is accused of defrauding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program of at least $600,000 through an Asian grocery store he operated in Tacoma, Washington.

The alleged scheme ran from March 2024 to June 2025. Prosecutors say Bedi swiped SNAP recipients’ electronic benefit cards, provided cash instead of eligible food, and kept roughly half the benefits for himself.

After he was indicted, Bedi is believed to have driven to Canada and then traveled to India. A federal warrant for violating the conditions of his release was issued on May 21.

The FBI had offered a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction. His capture is one of six fugitives returned through the Most Wanted Fraudsters program since its recent launch.

FBI Director Kash Patel announced the development on X, writing, “BACK IN THE U.S. – Manjit Singh Bedi, one of the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters, arrested in September in India.”

Patel described the extradition as part of a broader increase in returns of high-value targets. He said the bureau has secured 260 extraditions and removals over the past 20 months, more than 70 percent higher than the previous comparable period.

“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 stated. He thanked partner agencies for their assistance.

Bedi faces federal charges of wire fraud and SNAP benefits fraud. The case is now pending in the United States following his return.

The FBI photo of Bedi is undated. No additional details about the India arrest or the specific conditions of his extradition have been released beyond the director’s statements.

The program targeting fraud fugitives has produced multiple returns in a short period. Officials have highlighted international cooperation as a key factor in locating individuals who leave the country after indictment.