Federal authorities have arrested a fugitive grocery store owner accused of siphoning hundreds of thousands of dollars from a taxpayer-funded welfare program and fleeing the United States in defiance of a federal court order.
The case centers on 65-year-old Manjit Singh Bedi, an immigrant from India and naturalized US citizen, who was taken into custody in India after allegedly absconding from Washington state, according to The Post Millennial. FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrest on Saturday, stating that Bedi had reportedly fled to his native country last year.
"The FBI is actively working to secure his return to the US," said Patel, underscoring the bureaus determination to bring the accused fraudster back to face justice in an American courtroom. Bedi, described by the FBI as its fifth "Most Wanted Fraudster," is accused of defrauding the government of at least $600,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
Investigators say the scheme ran from March 2024 through June 2025 and was centered on a small Tacoma, Washington, business called Asian Grocery Store. Rather than providing food to low-income customers using Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards as intended, Bedi allegedly swiped the cards, handed out cash, and kept roughly half of the proceeds for himself.
Bedi was indicted on charges of wire fraud and SNAP fraud in the US District Court for the Western District of Washington, reflecting the seriousness with which federal authorities treat abuse of welfare programs funded by hardworking taxpayers. A federal judge initially allowed his release, ordering him to surrender his passport and remain in the United States, but Bedi allegedly drove into Canada and then fled to India, where he was born.
After he violated the conditions of his release, a federal arrest warrant was issued on May 21, 2026. The FBI subsequently elevated him to its "Most Wanted Fraudster" list, a new tool aimed at tracking down high-value financial criminals who attempt to exploit global borders to evade accountability.
"This is the 5th Most Wanted Fraudster captured since the creation of the new list three months ago - and yet another high value target captured overseas," said FBI Dir. Kash Patel on X. "Subjects captured so far have been responsible for a combined over $2 billion in fraud and were on the run for almost 4,000 days collectively prior to arrest."
In a separate post, Patel emphasized a tougher stance on those who exploit American generosity and government programs, declaring, "When I became FBI Director, I made a promise: the world would no longer be a safe haven for those who prey on Americans...Run overseas. Hide behind borders. Change countries. It wont save you. This FBI will hunt you down." For conservatives concerned about rampant fraud in entitlement programs and the burden on taxpayers, the case highlights both the vulnerabilities in welfare systems and the necessity of strong enforcement to protect public funds.
Login