A Georgia social media personality has been indicted on federal charges related to an alleged scheme to steal more than $4 million in food assistance benefits. Mercedes Reshard New, 39, of Atlanta, who operates under the online name 'Shawty Dred,' was indicted on October 7th by a federal grand jury.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia, New allegedly controlled more than 350 fraudulent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) accounts opened using stolen identities between January 2020 and July 2026. Prosecutors say EBT debit cards associated with those accounts were mailed to addresses around metro Atlanta.
New also allegedly registered his company, Shawty Dred LLC, as an authorized SNAP retailer. Using the store's card reader, prosecutors say he siphoned more than $660,000 in benefits between April 2024 and November 2025. The USDA revoked the store's authorization in November 2025.
In total, New allegedly defrauded Georgia's Division of Family & Children Services into loading approximately $4.6 million into the fake accounts, with roughly $4 million actually withdrawn.
Local police arrested New approximately two weeks after the USDA action. He was taken into custody again on October 13th following the federal indictment and is currently held in U.S. Marshals Service custody.
New was indicted 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.
U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg stated that the office is committed to holding accountable those who abuse assistance programs intended to support vulnerable populations.
