A social media influencer has been arrested after allegedly stealing millions of dollars from a government food assistance programme.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides financial support to those with low income, allowing eligible households to purchase groceries using electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards.
Atlanta-based influencer Mercedes Reshard New, also known as Shawty Dred, has been accused of exploiting the scheme to obtain more than $4 million in benefits between January 2020 and July 2026.
He allegedly created over 350 fraudulent accounts
According to the US Department of Justice, the 39-year-old allegedly created more than 350 fraudulent SNAP accounts using stolen identities, before arranging for EBT cards to be delivered to addresses across Atlanta.
Prosecutors also claim that New registered his business, Shawty Dred LLC, as an authorized SNAP retailer, allowing him to withdraw more than $660,000 through transactions involving the fraudulent cards.
After his retailer authorization was revoked in November 2025, New allegedly approached Walmart shoppers and offered to pay for their groceries using EBT cards in exchange for cash.
Authorities say the influencer, who has more than two million Instagram followers, regularly flaunted his wealth online, posting videos featuring private jets, luxury vehicles, designer goods and stacks of cash.New was indicted on 63 federal charges, including mail fraud, aggravated identity theft and SNAP fraud, before being arrested on October 13.
During a court appearance on October 22, New pleaded not guilty and was denied bond, with prosecutors arguing that he posed a flight risk. He remains in custody awaiting further proceedings.
I’m Abhishek Sharma, an author at TigerJek.com. I enjoy exploring games, testing different strategies, and turning what I learn into clear, useful guides. My goal is to help players understand the game better and improve without the usual confusion.
