A rapper from Atlanta who is well-known for disgusting behavior like peeing naked from balconies was recently taken into police custody and is facing a slew of fraud-related charges as part of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on fraud, particularly the administration’s mission to recover almost $42 million in food stamps that were meant to go to needy families.
Mercedes New, an influencer, rapper, and apparently an adult content creator based in Atlanta, has flaunted a lavish lifestyle for years on social media, posting one photo after another of his trips around the world in private jets, Rolls-Royces, and Maybachs. The rapper, who goes by the name Shawty Dred, also featured pictures of himself on social media counting big stacks of cash and setting bills on fire.
However, between January 2020 and July 2026, the 39-year-old rap artist drained the state-administered Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by creating a whopping 350 fake accounts based on a number of stolen identities with the Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS).
According to a report from The New York Post, New, who loves to flaunt his supposed “wealth” by wearing blingy necklaces and pose in front of mansions, allegedly received hundreds of fraudulent SNAP EBT cards by having them mailed to multiple addresses in the metro Atlanta region. He then took those cards and sold them on the street for money or used them at his own company, Shawty Dred LLC.
While the Atlanta influencer was running a $4.6 million fraud scheme, he would get on his Instagram and TikTok account to taunt those who viewed his content as “broke motherf—ers” while he then spent the money he made on vacations, clothes, and jewelry. Prosecutors indicted New on 46 counts of mail fraud, 15 counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of food stamp fraud earlier this month.
“Two-hundred twenty thousand Americans could’ve eaten for the entire month of October if it were not for this $42 million in fraud,” Attorney General Todd Blanche went on to say about New and his vile scheme. “We’ve indicted men and women in 13 different districts just in the past seven weeks, and that effort will continue for as long as it takes.”
Vice President JD Vance, along with members of the Departments of Justice and Agriculture held a press conference in Cincinnati where they highlighted New’s case. During that press event, Department of Agriculture Inspector General John Walk quipped, “there’s nothing ‘New’ under the sun.” Vance then shared some comments about the situation.
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“SNAP exists to help hungry children eat; it does not exist to provide private jets to a guy like Shawty Dred. I understand he called almost 9,000 times and would take benefits that were spread across 350 accounts, collect them to himself, and then enrich himself in the process,” Vance explained to members of the press.
“Part of what helped us identify Shawty Dred is the guy’s posting Instagram videos, and we’re able to connect the money that he’s making with the money that he’s then using to go and buy seats on private jets and all these other things,” he remarked. New, who has a following of over 2 million on Instagram, was previously taken into police custody in 2022 after he urinated naked off his apartment balcony.
Featured Image: screenshot from embedded video