Administration posts feature accused SNAP fraudster days before midterms
Officials shared images of Mercedes Reshard New, who faces federal charges for stealing millions from food assistance programs, in a move critics called inflammatory.
By Yasmin Duda ·
Voters in the United States face a series of social media images from federal officials featuring a Black man accused of stealing millions in food assistance benefits. The posts appeared on official government accounts just days before the midterm elections. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins shared the images on X on Saturday, while the White House posted a related graphic on Thursday.
Rollins posted a photo of New standing in front of stacks of U.S. currency with the caption, "SNAP FRAUDSTER." The image showed New holding a burning bill. A text overlay read, "Some costumes come with a price tag. This one comes with a prison sentence." The background of the post mimicked Spirit Halloween costume packaging. The White House separately shared a photo of a pumpkin carved with the shape of a sombrero and the words "Spooky szn is here."
New, also known by the social media handle Shawty Dred, was arrested on federal charges in October. Federal prosecutors said he controlled more than 350 fraudulent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program accounts under stolen identities between January 2020 and July 2026. Prosecutors alleged that New used his company, Shawty Dred LLC, to become an authorized SNAP retailer and used EBT debit cards to extract approximately $4 million. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 7 for dozens of counts of mail fraud and aggravated identity theft.
The timing of the posts coincides with a government campaign to emphasize aggressive immigration enforcement and fraud crackdowns. Affordability, driven by rising healthcare costs, remains a top concern for voters in the upcoming elections. The administration has increased anti-immigrant rhetoric in recent weeks, including a search of the Washington, D.C., home of Rep. Ilhan Omar earlier this month. Federal authorities are investigating potential fraud in her family's immigration paperwork.
Critics have previously accused the White House of using inflammatory visuals. During the government shutdown more than a year ago, the White House replayed a deepfake video of House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries wearing a fake mustache and sombrero. Vice President JD Vance promised the sombrero memes would stop when Democrats agreed to end the shutdown. The NAACP, the White House, and Rollins did not respond to requests for comment regarding the new posts.
New’s Instagram account, which has more than two million followers, depicted an extravagant lifestyle, including private jet travel and Rolls-Royce vehicles. Marlo Graham, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Atlanta field office, stated that New allegedly used the stolen cash to bankroll a life of luxury instead of feeding families in need. New remains in federal custody, and court records show he has been arrested multiple times in Fulton County for various crimes, including identity theft and forgery.
Source: KNBC
