Washington State, USA: Manjit Singh Bedi, an Indian national and grocery store owner from Tacoma, Washington, has reportedly been brought back to the United States from India to face federal charges related to alleged fraud involving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), according to a social media post by Florida’s Voice.
The post alleges that Bedi fled to India after being indicted in connection with a scheme involving Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards used by SNAP recipients. It claims that he allegedly obtained at least $600,000 in fraudulent proceeds by exchanging cash for beneficiaries’ food-assistance benefits.
According to the allegations described in the post, the transactions involved charging approximately $200 to an EBT card, providing the cardholder with $100 in cash and retaining the remaining amount. The alleged scheme reportedly involved transactions for groceries that were never actually sold.
The post further states that the FBI placed Bedi on a “Most Wanted Fraudsters” list in September 2026 and that Indian authorities subsequently took him into custody before his return to the United States.
The case highlights the serious legal consequences that can arise from the alleged misuse of public food-assistance programmes. SNAP is intended to help eligible low-income households purchase food, and fraudulent transactions can undermine the programme’s purpose.
Legal status: The allegations and reported return to the United States should be verified against official FBI, US Department of Justice and court records. An indictment is an accusation, not a conviction, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Source: Florida’s Voice social media post. Independent confirmation of the reported extradition or return, charges and case status has not been established from the supplied material.
The report is supported by the US Department of Justice announcement of October 15, 2026, which confirms that Bedi was returned from India to face charges. The official release also states that he pleaded not guilty in April 2026