Atlanta Social Media Influencer Accused Of Stealing $4M In Food Stamp Benefits

ATLANTA — An Atlanta social media personality known as "Shawty Dred" has been arrested on federal charges accusing him of orchestrating a multimillion-dollar food stamp fraud scheme involving hundreds of accounts created using stolen identities.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia announced Wednesday that Mercedes Reshard New, 39, was arrested Oct. 13 after a federal grand jury indicted him on 64 counts.

These charges included mail fraud, aggravated identity theft and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fraud.

Federal prosecutors allege New controlled more than 350 fraudulent SNAP accounts between January 2020 and July 2026, using stolen identities to obtain approximately $4.6 million in benefits intended for low-income families.

Investigators also said New arranged for electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards to be mailed to addresses throughout metro Atlanta and registered his company, Shawty Dred LLC, as an authorized SNAP retailer.

Between April 2024 and November 2025, New allegedly used the fraudulent cards and a payment-processing device associated with his business to steal more than $660,000 in benefits.

Federal authorities say his retailer authorization was revoked in November 2025 and, approximately two weeks later, local police arrested New for allegedly selling SNAP benefits at a metro Atlanta store, where officers seized 14 EBT cards issued to other individuals.

Prosecutors allege New subsequently ordered replacement cards and continued the scheme.

In total, investigators believe approximately $4 million was siphoned from fraudulent accounts.

Authorities also pointed to New's extravagant social media presence, noting that his Instagram account, which has more than 2 million followers, features private jets, luxury Rolls-Royce and Maybach vehicles and large stacks of cash.

"Instead of this money feeding families in need, New allegedly used the cash to bankroll a life of luxury," said Marlo Graham, special agent in charge of the FBI's Atlanta field office.

U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg also said the alleged scheme diverted taxpayer-funded assistance from vulnerable families.

"My office is fully committed to rooting out abuses of the SNAP program and holding accountable criminal con artists and scammers who appallingly seek to profit by stealing taxpayer money meant to feed vulnerable Americans," Hertzberg said.

New faces 46 counts of mail fraud, 15 counts of aggravated identity theft and one count each of SNAP fraud and illegal transactions with access devices.

He remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending further proceedings.

The FBI and U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Inspector General are investigating the case, with assistance from the Georgia Department of Human Services.

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