USDA Shares Photo of Accused SNAP Fraudster Ahead of Midterms

The administration has turned to social media to frame the upcoming election, posting images of a Black man accused of fraud to coincide with the midterm vote. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins shared a photograph on X on Saturday showing the man standing before stacks of U.S. currency. The post labeled him a "SNAP FRAUDSTER" and featured the caption, "Some costumes come with a price tag. This one comes with a prison sentence." The background mimicked Spirit Halloween packaging.

The subject of the photo is Mercedes Reshard New, a social media personality known online as Shawty Dred. Federal prosecutors say New controlled more than 350 fraudulent SNAP accounts using stolen identities between January 2020 and July 2026. He allegedly applied for his company, Shawty Dred LLC, to become an authorized retailer and used EBT debit cards to extract approximately $4 million. The government states he used the funds to support a lifestyle that included private jet travel, Rolls-Royce vehicles, and a large residence.

Rollins, who was nominated for her position in November 2024, appears to have sourced the image from an Instagram post dated September 2025. The photo shows New holding a bill that appears to be on fire. The White House also joined the effort, posting an image on X on Thursday of a pumpkin carved with a sombrero design and the text "Spooky szn is here."

New was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 7 on dozens of counts of mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. He also faces one count each of SNAP fraud and illegal transactions with access devices. His arrest followed on October 13, and he remains in federal custody. Court records show a federal defender named Joseph Austin is representing New, though he did not return a phone message seeking comment.

This is not the first time the administration has used imagery to target political opponents or emphasize enforcement. 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. Jeffries called the meme bigoted, and Vice President JD Vance promised the "sombrero memes will stop" after Democrats agreed to end the shutdown.

Critics argue the new posts serve as inflammatory rhetoric during a period of high economic stress. Affordability remains a top voter concern, and the administration has intensified its focus on fraud and immigration enforcement. In recent weeks, federal agents searched the home of Rep. Ilhan Omar in Washington, D.C., as part of an investigation into her family's immigration paperwork. Governors in California and Minnesota have accused the federal government of targeting their states for political reasons.

The NAACP, the White House, and Rollins' office did not respond to emails seeking comment on the new posts. The timing of the releases places them directly in the lead-up to the midterm elections. The administration continues to link fraud reduction to saving taxpayer money while healthcare costs rise.

Federal prosecutors highlighted the contrast between the stolen funds and the intended use of the program. Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta Marlo Graham said the money was meant to feed families in need. Instead, she stated, New allegedly used the cash to bankroll a life of luxury. New's Instagram account, which has over two million followers, frequently displayed these extravagant purchases.

Records from Fulton County jail indicate New has been arrested multiple times on suspicion of identity theft, insurance fraud, financial transaction card fraud, forgery, and simple assault. The latest case involves the $4 million in benefits he allegedly obtained. The visual campaign on official government accounts aims to solidify these facts in the public eye before the November vote.