SNAP fraud suspect back in US custody after fleeing country

A local grocer who left the country to avoid federal charges is back in custody. Today, the 64-year-old fraudster appeared in federal court in Tacoma after being returned to the U.S. by federal agents this week. He is accused of pocketing thousands in taxpayer dollars meant for hungry families. This was supposed to be a small Tacoma neighborhood market, but federal prosecutors say Manjeet Bedi turned it into his personal cash machine by trafficking SNAP food assistance benefits. Amounting to about $600,000 of taxpayer money that would normally go towards people that are the most needy in our communities. Investigators say Bedi's market was approved to process SNAP benefits in February 2024. But just one month later, investigators say the fraud began. He stole from Americans who truly needed help. But Bedi wasn't working alone. The US Department of Agriculture says EBT cardholders traded their food benefits for cash at 50 cents on the dollar, while Bedi kept the rest as profit for food never sold. They'll present their card. They'll say, hey, look, I've got $250 on this card. You give me 125 in cash, you can keep the rest. Immigration records showed Bedi, a native of India, entered the US on a visitor visa in 2010, became a green cardholder in 2016, and applied for US citizenship in 2022. officials say he was committing the fraud while his application was still being processed. Once he was granted citizenship, he continued the fraud until June of 2025. But authorities caught on, they indicted Bedi with wire fraud on April 1st, 2026, and he pleaded not guilty on April 22nd. Just four days later, he left the country traveling through Canada before going back to India. If you think you can flee beyond the borders of the United States to avoid our justice system, you are wrong, as Mr. Bedi discovered. Bedi's run ended only weeks after the FBI placed him on its brand new Most Wanted Fraudsters list, which was shared with law enforcement and media in the US and India. Bedi was brought back to Washington on October 14th, where he was taken to the Federal Detention Center in Tacoma. If you steal from the needy and you cheat the compassion of American taxpayers who fund these programs, you will face the firm hand of American justice. Both wire fraud and SNAP benefit fraud carry penalties of up to 20 years in prison. The FBI says the investigation is still active as charges could be filed against those who helped Betty organize the scheme or escape the country.