Treasury official posts image of man accused of $4 million SNAP fraud days before midterms

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins shared an image on X on Saturday depicting a Black man holding a burning bill with the caption "SNAP FRAUDSTER." The post appeared days before the midterm elections, a period when affordability and healthcare costs are top concerns for voters.

The image features New standing before stacks of U.S. currency. The text below the photo reads, "Some costumes come with a price tag. This one comes with a prison sentence," set against a background of fake Spirit Halloween costume packaging.

The White House account on X posted a separate image on Thursday showing a pumpkin carved with a sombrero design and the text "Spooky szn is here." Critics have described these posts as inflammatory rhetoric that aligns with the administration's aggressive immigration enforcement and fraud crackdown campaigns.

New, also known as the social media personality Shawty Dred, was arrested on October 13. Federal prosecutors stated in a release on October 21 that he controlled more than 350 fraudulent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program accounts between January 2020 and July 2026. He allegedly used his company, Shawty Dred LLC, to apply for authorized retailer status and extract approximately $4 million using EBT debit cards.

Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta Marlo Graham noted that New used the cash to fund a lifestyle of luxury. His Instagram account, which has more than two million followers, displays posts of him on private jets, posing with Rolls-Royce vehicles, and holding large amounts of cash.

New was indicted on October 7 on dozens of counts of mail fraud and aggravated identity theft, along with one count each of SNAP fraud and illegal transactions with access devices. Court records show he has a prior arrest history in Fulton County for offenses including identity theft, insurance fraud, and simple assault.

The administration has intensified anti-immigrant rhetoric in recent weeks, including a federal search of the Washington, D.C., home of Rep. Ilhan Omar earlier this month. Prosecutors are investigating potential fraud in her family's immigration paperwork. The NAACP, the White House, and Rollins did not respond to requests for comment.