Most-wanted US fraudster extradited from India over alleged $600,000 SNAP scam

A most-wanted fraudster accused of irregularities involving US government schemes has been extradited from India, the US Department of Justice has said.

Manjeet Singh Bedi, who was arrested in India last month, was brought back to the US on Wednesday night, Acting US Attorney Charles Neil Floyd said. Bedi is scheduled to appear before the Western District Court of Washington state on Friday.

FBI director welcomes Bedi’s return

FBI Director Kash Patel described Bedi’s arrest and return to the US as a significant development in the agency’s Most Wanted Fraudsters programme.

“The arrest and return of Manjit Singh Bedi marks yet another significant moment for the historic FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters program,” Patel said.

“Thank you to FBI Seattle, as well as our brilliant law enforcement partners here in the US and in India, for assisting in securing Bedi’s return,” he added.

Neil Floyd said the FBI would ask the court to detain Bedi pending trial, arguing that he had demonstrated both the intention and the means to flee.

How Bedi allegedly fled the US

Bedi operated a small grocery store called Asian Grocery Store in Tacoma, Washington state. According to the allegations, he sold food to participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), who used their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards to make purchases.

After being indicted on charges of wire fraud and SNAP benefits fraud, Bedi was allowed to appear in court without being arrested. He was directed to surrender his passport and remain in Washington state.

However, the FBI said Bedi subsequently drove across the border into Canada before fleeing to India.

“Thanks to the hard work of FBI Seattle investigators and our international law enforcement partners, as well as tips from the public about the subject's whereabouts, Bedi has been returned to the United States to face justice in a Tacoma courtroom,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office.

$600,000 SNAP fraud allegations

Patel said Bedi is accused of defrauding the US government of at least USD 600,000 in SNAP funds between approximately 2024 and 2025. The charges remain allegations, and Bedi will face the judicial process in the US.

“This is the latest in a tremendously successful run of returning high-value targets to the US by engaging with foreign partners – with over 260 removal actions in just 20 months, up approximately 70 per cent from the previous period,” Patel said.