- Fugitives
- Nov 4, 2026
FBI Most Wanted Fraudster CAUGHT In India After Fleeing With $600K In Food Stamp Money
- by Statewide Files,
- in Fugitives
A Tacoma grocery store owner charged with turning food stamp cards into cash walked out of federal court in April 2026, and four days later he was gone. Prosecutors say Manjit Bedi took about $600,000 in SNAP benefits meant for low-income families. He crossed into Canada, flew to India and landed on the FBI’s new Most Wanted Fraudsters list. Police in Punjab arrested him, and on October 14 FBI agents flew him back to face the charges.
Presumption of innocence
How a store gets approved to take food stamp cards, and how fast the fraud started How SNAP trafficking works at the counter, according to investigators Why officials say children are the ones who lose the most The indictment, the first court date and the escape through Canada The FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters list and the poster in three languages The arrest in Punjab, the 25-hour trip back and what happens next Manjit Bedi is charged with wire fraud. He has not been convicted and is presumed innocent.
Sources
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington (Oct. 15, 2026 press conference); FBI Seattle; USDA Office of Inspector General; FOX 13 Seattle; KIRO 7 / MyNorthwest; KING 5; Punjab arrest footage via TV9 Punjab. News footage is used under fair use for news reporting and commentary.
