Additional Coverage:
- EXCLUSIVE: FBI’s fifth ‘Most Wanted Fraudster’ captured after alleged SNAP scam suspect arrested in India (foxnews.com)
The FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters initiative marked its fifth arrest in just three months with the capture of Manjit Singh Bedi in India, Fox News Digital has confirmed. Authorities there, in cooperation with the FBI, apprehended Bedi, who is accused of a significant SNAP benefits fraud scheme. Efforts are now underway to extradite him to the United States to face charges.
Since its launch in June, the initiative has led to the arrest of five fugitives linked to over $2 billion in alleged financial fraud, with these individuals having collectively evaded law enforcement for nearly 4,000 days. This latest arrest highlights the FBI’s commitment to pursuing fraud suspects who flee abroad to avoid prosecution.
FBI Director Kash Patel described the rapid string of arrests as a historic achievement for the program, emphasizing that those exploiting American taxpayers will no longer escape accountability.
Bedi is accused of defrauding the U.S. government of at least $600,000 through a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) scheme. Between March 2024 and June 2025, while running an Asian grocery store in Tacoma, Washington, he allegedly misused SNAP recipients’ Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards by giving recipients cash instead of food and retaining roughly half of the benefits for himself.
After being charged with wire fraud and SNAP benefits fraud, Bedi was ordered to surrender his passport and remain in Washington state during court proceedings. However, investigators say he violated these conditions by crossing into Canada and eventually fleeing to India, where he was arrested. A federal warrant for violating his release conditions was issued on May 21, 2026.
The FBI had offered a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to Bedi’s arrest and conviction. He was believed to be living in India prior to his capture.
Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division underscored that the arrest demonstrates the department’s global reach in pursuing fraudsters. He reaffirmed the commitment to holding individuals accountable regardless of where they seek refuge.
The FBI confirmed it is actively working to bring Bedi back to the United States to face the pending charges.