FBI Drags Fugitive Food Stamp Fraudster Back to America After India Hideout

A Grocery Store Scheme That Stole From the Hungry

A fugitive accused of stealing more than $600,000 in federal food stamp benefits has been returned to the United States after being arrested in India, with FBI Director Kash Patel announcing that Manjit Singh Bedi — one of the bureau's Most Wanted Fraudsters — is now back on American soil to face justice.

Federal investigators allege Bedi defrauded the U.S. government out of at least $600,000 through a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fraud scheme between March 2024 and June 2025, while operating an Asian grocery store in Tacoma, Washington. The alleged con was brazen in its simplicity — and in who it hurt most.

The FBI says Bedi allegedly swiped SNAP recipients' Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, provided cash instead of eligible food purchases, and kept roughly half the benefits for himself. The people on the other side of those transactions were low-income families who relied on the program to buy groceries. Instead, they were handed cash at a steep discount — and a corrupt store owner allegedly pocketed the difference.

From Tacoma to Canada to India — and Back

After being indicted in connection with the scheme, Bedi allegedly drove to Canada before fleeing to India. A federal arrest warrant charging him with violating the conditions of his release was issued on May 21, 2026. It was a calculated escape — but not a permanent one.

In September, the FBI said it was working to secure Bedi's return to the United States after his arrest by Jalandhar Police in Punjab. At the time, Patel identified him as the fifth Most Wanted Fraudster captured since the program's launch and said he was believed to have fled to India the previous year.

Bedi, a naturalized U.S. citizen, was previously the subject of an FBI reward offering up to $150,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction. That kind of bounty signals just how seriously federal authorities were taking the case — and how determined they were to prevent him from waiting out justice overseas indefinitely.

A New FBI Program Racking Up Results

Bedi's return marked another milestone for the FBI's Most Wanted Fraudsters program, with six individuals on the list having been captured since its creation three months ago. Patel noted that the group is responsible for a combined over $2 billion in fraud and had been on the run for almost 4,000 days collectively prior to arrest.

Patel called Bedi's capture "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," adding that over the past 20 months, the bureau secured 260 extraditions and removals — an increase of more than 70% compared to the previous 20-month period.

What Comes Next

Bedi faces charges including wire fraud and SNAP benefits fraud, among other offenses. If convicted, he could face significant federal prison time. The case will now move through the U.S. court system, where prosecutors will have to prove the full scope of the alleged scheme.

Beyond this single case, the FBI's Most Wanted Fraudsters initiative signals a clear shift in how seriously the federal government is treating white-collar crimes that target social safety net programs. FBI officials say the latest arrest underscores the bureau's effort to pursue alleged fraudsters who fled overseas in an attempt to evade prosecution. The message being sent is unmistakable: fleeing the country is no longer a reliable exit strategy. Whether that message lands with others currently on the run remains to be seen.