FBI Returns Fugitive Accused of $600,000 Food Stamp Fraud From India

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has successfully returned a fugitive accused of defrauding the federal food stamp program of more than $600,000 to American soil following his arrest in India last month.

Manjit Singh Bedi, who had been listed among the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters, faces federal charges in connection with an alleged Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program fraud scheme operated through a grocery store in Tacoma, Washington. FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrest and extradition, marking another success in the bureau’s intensified efforts to combat fraud targeting federal assistance programs.

According to federal officials, Bedi allegedly orchestrated his scheme between March 2024 and June 2025 while operating an Asian grocery store in the Tacoma area. The alleged method involved swiping SNAP recipients’ Electronic Benefit Transfer cards, dispensing cash rather than eligible food purchases, and retaining approximately half of the benefits for personal gain. Such practices not only defraud taxpayers but also deprive vulnerable Americans of resources intended for their sustenance.

Following his indictment, Bedi allegedly fled American jurisdiction by driving across the border into Canada before ultimately making his way to India. A federal arrest warrant for violating the conditions of his release was issued in May 2026. Indian authorities apprehended him in September, and he has now been returned to face justice in the United States.

Director Patel emphasized that this case represents part of a broader pattern of success in international law enforcement cooperation. The FBI has secured 260 extraditions and removals over the past 20 months, representing a 70 percent increase compared to the previous 20-month period. Bedi becomes the sixth fugitive captured through the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters program since its establishment three months ago.

The timing of this arrest comes as the Department of Justice has intensified its focus on protecting federal assistance programs from fraudulent exploitation. Since the establishment of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Department has launched over 1,000 major fraud enforcement actions nationwide. These coordinated efforts target schemes that siphon taxpayer dollars from programs including Medicaid, SNAP, Housing and Urban Development, Social Security, and Small Business Administration initiatives.

These federal programs exist to serve America’s most vulnerable populations: the elderly, the sick, and the homeless. When individuals exploit these safety net programs for personal enrichment, they undermine public confidence in government assistance and divert resources from those genuinely in need.

The successful extradition demonstrates both the extended reach of American law enforcement and the willingness of international partners to cooperate in bringing fugitives to justice. As federal authorities continue to scrutinize fraud in government assistance programs, the message remains clear: those who steal from programs designed to help vulnerable Americans will face consequences, regardless of where they attempt to hide.

The case against Bedi will now proceed through the federal court system, where he will answer to charges of wire fraud and SNAP benefits fraud.