The FBI arrested Manjit Singh Bedi in India on Friday for his alleged role in a $600,000 SNAP benefits fraud scheme. Bedi, a naturalized U.S. citizen, reportedly fled through Canada to avoid prosecution for crimes linked to his Tacoma grocery store.
The $600,000 EBT scheme in Tacoma
Federal investigators allege that Manjit Singh Bedi orchestrated a fraudulent operation using Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to defraud the U.S. government of at least $600,000. According to Fox News Digital, this scheme took place between March 2024 and June 2025 while Bedi operated an Asian grocery store in Tacoma , Washington.
The legal pressure mounted after Bedi was indicted on wire fraud and SNAP benefits fraud charges. While the court ordered him to surrender his passport and remain in Washington state, the FBI reports that Bedi instead drove across the Canadian border before eventually fleeing to India to evade the judicial process.
A $2 billion target: The Most Wanted Fraudsters list
The capture of Manjit Singh Bedi is not an isolated incident but the fifth success of the FBI's "Most Wanted Fraudsters" initiative. Launched in June, this targeted program focuses on fugitives accused of high-stakes financial crimes who believe that crossing international borders grants them immunity from U.S. law.
The scale of this initiative is immense. As reported by the bureau, the five fugitives captured thus far are collectively accused of more than $2 billion in alleged fraud. These individuals spent a combined total of nearly 4,000 days on the run before being apprehended, signaling a systemic effort by the Department of Justice to recover stolen public funds.
The $150,000 reward and the reach of Colin M. McDonald
To secure the arrest of Manjit Singh Bedi,the FBI offered a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to his conviction. A federal arrest warrant for violating the conditions of his release had been issued on May 21, 2026, creating a legal trail that allowed U.S. authorities to coordinate with Indian officials.
Assistant Attorney General Colin M .. McDonald of the Fraud Division emphasized that the Justice Department's reach now "extends to every corner of the planet." McDonald stated that the Fraud Division will continue working with the FBI to ensure that individuals like Bedi are held accountable regardless of their location .
The missing links in Bedi's flight to India
Despite the arrest, several critical details remian unverified. It is currently unclear if Manjit Singh Bedi acted alone in the Tacoma EBT scheme or if other employees or associates at the Asian grocery store facilitated the $600,000 fraud.. Furthermore, the report does not specify how Bedi managed to navigate the Canadian border and secure travel to India while under court-ordered retsrictions.
There is also the pending matter of extradition. While the FBI is "actively working" to return Bedi to the United States, the specific timeline for his transfer from Indian custody to a U.S. courtroom has not been disclosed.
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