FBI Expands Most Wanted Fraudsters List with Three New Suspects

The FBI has enhanced its Most Wanted Fraudsters list, adding three alleged fraud suspects in a bid to spotlight major financial crimes and encourage public aid in locating these individuals. FBI Director Kash Patel announced on September 3 that the new additions are Manjit Singh Bedi, Onur Simsek, and Bernhard Eugen Fritsch. Each suspect is wanted in connection to separate fraud schemes.

This development comes as the FBI intensifies its focus on large-scale fraud cases. Director Patel noted that the bureau has recently apprehended four individuals allegedly responsible for nearly $2 billion in fraud, returning them to the United States for prosecution after they evaded capture for a combined total of approximately 9½ years.

Profiles of the New Additions

Manjit Singh Bedi:

Bedi is accused of defrauding the U.S. government of at least $600,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds between 2024 and 2025. Authorities claim he executed this scheme through a grocery store he operated in Tacoma, Washington, by illicitly processing Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) transactions for personal gain. After fleeing the United States, Bedi was thought to be in India.

In a significant breakthrough, the FBI confirmed Bedi’s arrest in India, marking him as the fifth individual from the Most Wanted Fraudsters list to be apprehended. The arrest is directly linked to the SNAP fraud scheme. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald emphasized the wide-reaching efforts of the Department of Justice, stating, “As this arrest in India shows, the Justice Department’s reach extends to every corner of the planet.”

Bernhard Eugen Fritsch:

Fritsch is charged in connection with an alleged investment fraud scheme involving his technology company, StarClub Inc. According to the FBI, he improperly raised around $35 million from investors between 2014 and 2017, misrepresenting the company’s financial status and diverting at least $7.3 million for personal expenses. Convicted of wire fraud in California in April 2025, Fritsch fled to Mexico prior to a post-conviction hearing.

Despite being detained by Mexican authorities with false identification, he was released and later fled to Munich, Germany. In his absence, he was sentenced in October 2025 to 15 years in federal prison, fined $35,000, and ordered to pay over $26.8 million in restitution.

Onur Simsek:

Simsek, a Turkish national, is accused of orchestrating a scheme to secure Department of Defense contracts fraudulently for essential military parts. Between 2019 and 2022, Simsek allegedly employed a front company to misrepresent capabilities and secure contracts, subsequently transferring large sums to Turkey via international wire transactions. He remains a fugitive since 2023, facing charges such as conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government, wire fraud, and money laundering.

Understanding the Most Wanted Fraudsters List

The Most Wanted Fraudsters list, unveiled on June 4, 2026, aims to highlight fugitives charged with significant fraud offenses resulting in substantial financial damage to government programs, businesses, or individuals. In the announcement, Director Patel described it as a “historic initiative” to mobilize federal law enforcement fully to ensure these individuals face justice.

The list encompasses individuals linked to a variety of alleged crimes, including healthcare fraud, pandemic relief fraud, investor fraud, and government benefits fraud.

Extent of FBI’s Most Wanted Lists

The FBI maintains three sanctioned Most Wanted lists:

• Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, established in 1950.
• Most Wanted Terrorists, initiated post-September 11, 2001.
• Most Wanted Fraudsters, launched in June 2026.

The FBI’s National Press Office noted that the latest fraud-focused list reflects the agency’s dedication to combating major financial criminals and alerting the public to individuals involved in significant fraud schemes. The Most Wanted Fraudsters page currently features 12 individuals, among them Simsek and Fritsch, as authorities continue to seek public information.