Trump Fraud Task Force Uncovers Nearly $42 Million in Food Stamp Fraud, Including Rapper Accused of Stealing Millions
President Trump’s administration has uncovered nearly $42 million in food stamp fraud during a nationwide enforcement operation targeting criminal networks accused of stealing taxpayer-funded benefits intended for struggling American families.
Vice President JD Vance and Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the results Wednesday, revealing that federal and state authorities have pursued enforcement actions against more than 40 defendants across the country.
The investigation exposed schemes involving stolen benefit cards, identity theft, fraudulent retailers and illegal transactions that allegedly diverted millions of dollars from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP.
Among the defendants is an Atlanta rapper and social media personality accused of stealing more than $4 million in food assistance benefits while displaying an extravagant lifestyle online.
The operation represents another major development in President Trump’s campaign to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse throughout federal assistance programs.
Federal officials said the nearly $42 million involved in the SNAP cases could have provided food assistance to approximately 220,000 Americans for an entire month.
Attorney General Blanche condemned the schemes, saying criminals had diverted money intended to help families purchase groceries.
“These schemes siphoned millions from taxpayers and robbed struggling Americans of the benefits they depend on so fraudsters could use them for their own selfish purposes,” Blanche said.
The enforcement operation began September 1 and involved the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Department of Agriculture, the USDA Office of Inspector General and 13 U.S. attorneys’ offices.
The Utah Attorney General’s Office also participated in the coordinated investigation.
Authorities identified nearly $45 million in alleged or proven intended losses across the broader operation, including approximately $42 million connected specifically to SNAP benefits.
One of the most striking cases involves Mercedes Reshard New, an Atlanta rapper known professionally as Shawty Dred.
Federal prosecutors allege that New orchestrated a massive food stamp fraud scheme involving stolen identities, hundreds of SNAP accounts and fraudulent electronic benefit transfer transactions.
A federal grand jury indicted New on October 7 on charges including food stamp fraud, mail fraud, access device fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Investigators say the scheme involved approximately $4.4 million in intended losses.
According to federal authorities, the Georgia Department of Human Services began investigating suspicious activity involving the telephone system used by SNAP recipients to access information about their benefits.
Investigators discovered that telephone numbers associated with New had contacted the system more than 9,000 times, accessing information connected to over 350 separate SNAP accounts.
The suspicious transactions initially totaled approximately $1.8 million, including roughly $635,000 in transactions at Shawty Dred LLC, an Atlanta business owned by New that had previously been authorized to accept SNAP benefits.
Prosecutors allege the operation eventually expanded to include millions of dollars in fraudulent transactions.
Authorities say New used personal information belonging to other individuals to obtain benefit cards and direct government assistance through accounts he controlled.
The rapper also attracted attention for his social media posts displaying luxury purchases, expensive vehicles and other signs of wealth.
His online content reportedly included a video in which he set cash on fire.
Federal investigators are examining whether proceeds from the alleged fraud financed his lavish lifestyle.
New has also previously attracted attention for an arrest involving public indecency.
The current federal indictment concerns the alleged benefits fraud and related financial offenses. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg said the allegations involve money intended to help low-income families purchase food.
“New allegedly stole over $4 million meant for poor families who need help putting food on the table,” Hertzberg said.
The prosecutor pledged to pursue individuals who exploit government assistance programs for personal financial gain.
USDA Inspector General John Walk also condemned the alleged scheme, accusing New of displaying an extravagant lifestyle while benefiting from money intended for vulnerable Americans.
The Atlanta case is only one component of the nationwide enforcement operation.
Another major investigation involves an alleged $29.7 million fraud scheme connected to retail food stores in Chicago.
Federal prosecutors have accused Jorag Yaseen and Rami Kanaan of participating in a conspiracy involving fraudulent electronic benefit transfer transactions.
According to investigators, the defendants and their associates processed thousands of transactions using stolen SNAP account information between February 2024 and April 2025.
The transactions allegedly appeared to involve legitimate grocery purchases but instead transferred federal benefit money into accounts controlled by participants in the scheme.
Prosecutors also allege that some of the proceeds were used to purchase vehicles intended for shipment overseas.
Yaseen and Kanaan face federal charges involving wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies.
The investigation illustrates how SNAP fraud can involve organized financial operations rather than isolated instances of improper benefit use.
Federal authorities have also identified schemes involving the resale of benefit cards, fraudulent purchases of baby formula and the use of false identities to obtain government assistance.
Some defendants in the broader enforcement operation are foreign nationals, including individuals from Yemen and the Dominican Republic.
Authorities have emphasized that the cases involve specific allegations against individual defendants rather than evidence of wrongdoing by entire immigrant communities.
The Justice Department has also pursued a separate case involving attempted fraud against a USDA crop insurance program, bringing the combined intended losses identified during the enforcement surge to nearly $45 million.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the administration is determined to protect both taxpayers and families who depend on food assistance.
“Every instance of SNAP fraud has two victims: families in dire need and taxpayers,” Rollins said.
She warned that federal investigators would continue identifying individuals who steal benefits or manipulate government assistance systems.
The latest enforcement results come as Vice President Vance leads President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, an administration-wide initiative established earlier this year.
The task force coordinates federal agencies investigating fraudulent activity involving food assistance, healthcare, housing, unemployment benefits and other government-funded programs.
Vance addressed the findings Wednesday at the FBI’s Cincinnati field office, describing SNAP as an important source of assistance for Americans experiencing financial hardship.
He warned that fraudulent operators are exploiting a program designed to help families afford basic necessities.
The vice president said dishonest individuals are effectively taking resources away from hungry children to enrich themselves.
Federal officials have increasingly focused on fraudulent retail transactions involving SNAP electronic benefit transfer cards.
Unlike legitimate grocery purchases, these schemes can involve exchanging benefits for cash, processing transactions without providing eligible food or using stolen account information.
The result can be significant financial losses for taxpayers and direct harm to households whose benefits are stolen.
Victims of electronic benefit theft may discover that money intended for groceries has disappeared from their accounts, leaving them unable to purchase food.
The administration has argued that stronger investigations, improved screening and criminal prosecutions are necessary to protect the integrity of the program.
The Justice Department’s new National Fraud Enforcement Division, established in April, is playing a central role in that effort.
Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald said the consequences of fraud extend beyond financial losses recorded by government agencies.
He emphasized that stolen benefits can leave families struggling to feed their children and undermine public confidence in assistance programs.
The nationwide enforcement surge also follows President Trump’s announcement of a $25 million whistleblower incentive program offering financial rewards for information that helps uncover government fraud.
Under that initiative, eligible individuals may receive payments ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 for tips that contribute to qualifying federal enforcement actions.
The administration hopes the rewards will encourage employees, witnesses and members of the public to report suspected fraud involving taxpayer-funded programs.
Wednesday’s announcement demonstrates the scale of the cases already being investigated.
More than 40 defendants have been targeted, and the alleged schemes span numerous states and federal judicial districts.
Some cases have resulted in guilty pleas or established losses, while others remain allegations that prosecutors must prove in court.
The nearly $42 million figure includes intended losses and should not be interpreted as a confirmed amount of money recovered by the government.
For President Trump and Vice President Vance, the investigation represents another enforcement initiative aimed at identifying criminal misuse of federal benefits.
Federal authorities say the crackdown will continue as investigators pursue additional suspects, examine suspicious transactions and seek accountability for individuals who exploit programs intended to help Americans in need.