Georgia social media influencer ‘Shawty Dred’ stole $4M in benefits with 350 fake SNAP accounts: Feds

Atlanta social media personality “Shawty Dred,” real name Mercedes Reshard New, was arrested on federal charges accusing him of fraudulently obtaining more than $4 million in food assistance benefits, prosecutors said.New, 39, was indicted Oct. 7 on 46 counts of mail fraud, 15 counts of aggravated identity theft and one count each of SNAP fraud and illegal transactions with access devices. New was arrested Oct. 13 and is being held by the U.S. Marshals Service pending further court proceedings.According to the indictment, New controlled more than 350 fraudulent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program accounts between January 2020 and July 2026. Prosecutors allege the accounts were opened using stolen identities, and that New arranged for electronic benefit transfer cards to be sent to addresses around metro Atlanta.New also allegedly sought and obtained authorization for the company Shawty Dred LLC to operate as a SNAP retailer. From April 2024 to November 2025, prosecutors say, New