A Baton Rouge business is suing YouTube prankster Carliemar White III, known online as ‘Agent Ratliff,’ alleging that he posed as a fake government agent for a video.
White, famous for sketch videos where he poses as a member of an agency called OCDA, showed up at Holmes Building Materials in August wearing a fake uniform and carrying a clipboard. He claimed to be investigating employee discrimination and was escorted to the company’s back office, where he confronted a supervisor while filming.
According to WBRZ, White and two associates cornered supervisor Derek Jones during the prank. They allegedly blocked the doorway and refused to let him leave. White also blew cigarette smoke in Jones’ face, leading to accusations of assault and battery.
Jones and the company say the situation escalated further after the video went viral. Employees reportedly received harassing calls, and management claims their reputation took a hit. The business filed a suit in federal court, seeking damages for defamation, slander, and libel, and demanding the removal of all OCDA videos from the internet.
“This is part of an ongoing enterprise between the individual defendants to harass and defame private businesses and professionals throughout the southeastern United States,” the lawsuit claims.
YouTuber denies impersonating federal agent following lawsuit
In earlier videos, Agent Ratliff introduced himself as an officer with “OSHA Cares Diversity Affairs.” Last October, he rebranded the act under the new name “Occupational Cares Diversity Affairs.”
State business filings show OCDA Official is registered as a domestic LLC tied to White’s home address on the outskirts of Atlanta, according to Georgia Secretary of State records.
The lawsuit claims employees were tricked into thinking the defendants represented OSHA, a real organization which stands for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. They allege that the YouTuber and his crew used their “false federal identities” to gain access to a restricted, staff-only area of the business.
In a post on Instagram, White defended his actions and called on lawyers to represent him. “Time to lace up the boots cause we never said we were with OSHA or any federal agency!” he exclaimed. “This is a REAL COMPANY that’s actually registered with the state and YALL let us in!!”
Authorities crack down on YouTube pranksters
This isn’t White’s first run-in with the law. According to The Advocate, federal agents raided his home after he impersonated an Occupational Safety and Health Administration agent. Authorities found several firearms, and he was charged as a felon in possession of a weapon. White later said he spent nearly a month in jail.
His case is part of a broader crackdown on prank content that blurs the line between comedy and crime.
Earlier this year, viral TikTok prankster Heston James was hit with felony charges after a months-long spree of disruptive stunts across Arizona that could land him 9 years in jail
You can get three months of Audible’s subscription for $3