Atlanta Rapper Shawty Dred Indicted in $42M Federal SNAP Fraud Sweep

Atlanta rapper Shawty Dred, whose legal name is Mercedes New, has been indicted in a federal investigation into alleged fraud involving SNAP food benefits. Authorities accuse him of stealing $4.4 million in benefits, as part of a nationwide crackdown said to have uncovered a wider alleged $42 million scheme.

The indictment followed an investigation by Georgia officials that began in 2025. They say phone numbers linked to New contacted SNAP’s automated phone system more than 9,000 times, accessed over 350 accounts and were associated with more than 500 Georgia EBT cards. Prosecutors also allege that around $635,000 in transactions went through New’s Atlanta shop; he faces charges including food stamp fraud and aggravated identity theft, with a possible sentence of two to 20 years.