The rapper and social media personality is allegedly connected to over 500 EBT fraud incidents in Georgia

Atlanta rapper Shawty Dred has been indicted by the United States Department of Justice as part of an alleged $42M fraud scheme involving SNAP benefits.

On Wednesday (Oct. 21), the Department of Justice’s Office of Public Affairs released documents citing Shawty Dred, real name Mercedes New, as one of more than 40 alleged culprits who have been apprehended amid a nationwide surge in enforcement against fraud involving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and related USDA programs.

According to the Department of Justice, New was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 7 before being apprehended in Las Vegas on October 13. He has been charged with criminal food stamp fraud, mail fraud, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft.…