The FBI has made its fifth major fraud arrest in three months. Manjit Singh Bedi was captured in India on Friday. He is accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from a federal food aid program.

Federal investigators say Bedi ran an Asian grocery store in Tacoma, Washington. They accuse him of swiping customers' food stamp cards. Instead of buying food, he gave customers cash. He allegedly kept about half of the money for himself.

The FBI says Bedi is accused of taking at least $600,000 from American taxpayers. The alleged scheme ran from March 2024 through June 2025. That is 15 months of alleged theft from a program that feeds struggling families.

Bedi was indicted on wire fraud and SNAP benefits fraud charges. A federal judge ordered him to stay in Washington state. He was also told to hand over his passport. Investigators say he instead drove into Canada and then flew to India.

A federal warrant was issued on May 21, 2026, for violating his release conditions. The FBI offered a reward of up to $150,000 for tips on his whereabouts. He is a naturalized U.S. citizen.

FBI Director Kash Patel praised the outcome. "Five Most Wanted Fraudsters captured in just three months is a historic success," Patel told Fox News Digital. Together, the five are accused of more than $2 billion in fraud. They spent nearly 4,000 combined days as fugitives before being caught.

"The days of taking advantage of American taxpayers without consequence are over," Patel said.

The FBI launched its Most Wanted Fraudsters initiative in June. It targets fugitives who fled the country to avoid fraud charges. This is the fifth arrest under the program.

Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald said U.S. law follows suspects anywhere. "The Justice Department's reach extends to every corner of the planet," he told Fox News Digital. Bedi will be returned to the U.S. to face the charges against him.

SNAP gives food benefits to Americans with low incomes. Recipients use EBT cards at approved stores, similar to a debit card. Bedi is accused of treating those cards as a way to pocket tax dollars meant for groceries.

This kind of fraud harms families who depend on food aid. It also drains money that every American taxpayer put in. Congress can strengthen oversight of SNAP retailers and close the gaps that allegedly let this scheme run for over a year.

Suspect food stamp fraud? Report it to the USDA Office of Inspector General. Contact your representative and ask for stricter audits of stores that accept EBT.