Federal authorities want Manjit Singh Bedi, and they are willing to pay up to $150,000 to find him. If you have followed recent international crime news, you know the Federal Bureau of Investigation keeps expanding its specialized rosters to catch high-profile financial fugitives. Bedi, a naturalized US citizen originally from India, just became the latest name splashed across the FBI Most Wanted Fraudsters list.
Why did he make the cut? The charges point to an elaborate, multi-thousand-dollar welfare fraud scheme that managed to slip past standard oversight for over a year.
Inside the Tacoma Grocery Store Scheme
Bedi ran a small storefront called the Asian Grocery Store in Tacoma, Washington. On paper, it was a regular neighborhood shop. Behind the counter, federal investigators claim it functioned as an illegal cash-out hub for government welfare benefits.
The operation centered around the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, widely known as SNAP. Participants use Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards loaded with funds meant strictly for grocery purchases.
According to federal indictments, Bedi didn't sell groceries to cardholders. Instead, he swiped their EBT cards, handed over hard cash, and pocketed a massive cut. Investigators state that he kept roughly fifty percent of every transaction for himself. Between March 2024 and June 2025, this small-scale grocery scam allegedly drained the US government of at least $600,000.
How a Federal Fugitive Outsmarted Pre-Trial Release
What makes Bedi's case stand out isn't just the dollar amount. It is how easily he slipped through the judicial cracks after getting caught.
When federal agents initially indicted him for wire fraud and SNAP benefit offenses, the court didn't lock him up immediately. He received permission to appear via standard court summons. Judges ordered him to surrender his passport and stay put within Washington state boundaries.
Bedi ignored the restrictions completely.
Instead of waiting for trial, he packed up, drove straight across the northern border into Canada, and managed to board a flight out of North America. Intelligence points to India as his current hideout. Once he breached his supervision conditions, the US District Court for the Western District of Washington rushed out a federal arrest warrant.
The Global Hunt and the $150,000 Bounty
The FBI launched its dedicated fraudsters list to tackle white-collar criminals who think international borders protect them from American prosecution. The bureau puts heavy financial incentives on these notices to trigger grassroots tips.
The $150,000 reward for Bedi targets anyone who spots him or knows his exact physical address overseas. Law enforcement agencies in both the US and India continue to tighten cooperation channels against transnational fugitives, meaning Bedi's safety net abroad might shrink faster than he expects.
If you have concrete information regarding his whereabouts, you can reach out directly to the FBI's toll-free tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI, visit your nearest US embassy or consulate, or submit an anonymous lead through the official online portal.
