The FBI has been pursuing individuals involved in SNAP benefit scams.
Accused scammer Manjit Singh Bedi was arrested in India on Friday after fleeing the United States.
The FBI has been in contact with authorities in India to help with his arrest, while also collaborating with them to have him sent back to the United States.
Bedi is the fifth person to be arrested by the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters initiative. The initiative focuses on fugitives tied to financial crimes.
FIRST ON FOX: The FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters initiative notched its fifth arrest in just three months after authorities in India arrested Manjit Singh Bedi Friday, and the bureau is working to return the alleged SNAP benefits fraud suspect to the United States, Fox News Digital has learned.
The FBI worked with Indian authorities to secure Bedi’s arrest and is actively working to return him to the U.S. to face charges, according to the bureau.
Bedi’s arrest is the fifth through the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters initiative, which targets fugitives accused of major financial crimes.
“Launched in June, the initiative has led to the arrests of five fugitives whom the FBI says are collectively accused of more than $2 billion in alleged fraud after spending nearly 4,000 combined days on the run,” Fox News reported.
Authorities at the FBI say that the current arrest shows an effort to go after accused fraudsters who are trying to avoid prosecution by fleeing the country.
According to federal authorities, Bedi is alleged to have committed fraud against the US government by stealing a minimum of $600,000 in SNAP benefits in 2024 and 2025. This occurred while he was running a grocery store in Tacoma, Washington.
The FBI explained that Bedi used people’s SNAP benefits. He gave people cash instead of food purchases and kept about half of the benefits.
The FBI said He was eventually indicted on SNAP benefits and wire fraud. He was told to give up his passport and stay in Washington state.
Authorities allege that Bedi crossed the border into Canada and went to India. Authorities issued a federal arrest warrant in May.
The FBI offered a reward of more than $150,000 for information that could have contributed to his capture and conviction. They also said he was a naturalized citizen and was believed to be living in India at the time.
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