The Brief
- Tacoma market owner Manjit Bedi appeared in federal court following his extradition from India for allegedly running a $600,000 cash-for-benefits SNAP fraud scheme.
- Bedi fled the U.S. to India shortly after his April 2026 indictment, but was captured following international public tips driven by his inclusion on the FBI’s “Most Wanted Fraudsters” list.
- Facing up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud, Bedi remains in custody while investigators look into potential co-conspirators who aided the scheme or his flight.
TACOMA, Wash. – A 64-year-old Kent man who fled the country after being indicted in a benefit fraud scheme is back in western Washington to face federal charges.
Manjit Bedi appeared in U.S. District Court in Tacoma on Friday, following his extradition from India. Bedi, who owned and operated a small market in Tacoma, is accused of converting federal food assistance dollars into cash for personal profit.
“By trafficking SNAP benefits, as alleged, he unlawfully converted benefits meant to provide food to the needy into cash and pocketed the money for himself,” said John Walk, Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
WA man ran cash-for-benefits SNAP fraud scheme
The backstory:…