Mercedes Reshard New, known online as "Shawty Dred," was arrested on federal charges accusing him of running a $4 million SNAP fraud scheme. (Credit: U.S. Attorney's Office/IG: richlifeshawtydred) ATLANTA – An Atlanta social media personality known online as "Shawty Dred" has been arrested on federal charges accusing him of running a $4 million food stamp fraud scheme to finance an extravagant lifestyle, federal authorities said. A federal grand jury indicted 39-year-old Mercedes Reshard New on 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. Federal agents arrested New on Oct. 13. According to the U.S. Attorneyâs Office for the Northern District of Georgia, New controlled more than 350 fraudulent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) accounts created using stolen identities between January 2020 and July 2026. Prosecutors allege New had electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards mailed to various metro Atlanta addresses and registered his business, Shawty Dred LLC, as an authorized SNAP retailer. Between April 2024 and November 2025, New allegedly used fraudulent EBT cards and a card reader registered to his company to swipe and steal more than $660,000 in benefits. In November 2025, the USDA revoked his store's authorization. Two weeks later, local police arrested New for allegedly selling SNAP benefits at a metro Atlanta store and seized 14 EBT cards issued…
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