A Louisiana man has been arrested for the third time in connection with a disturbing scheme in which authorities say he pretended to be disabled in order to coerce caregivers into performing intimate personal care acts.
According to police, Rutledge Deas IV, 35, was taken into custody after allegedly using online caregiver and nanny platforms to request in-home assistance. Investigators say Deas falsely claimed to have severe physical disabilities and required help with basic tasks, including diaper changes.
When caregivers arrived at his residence, authorities allege that Deas misrepresented his condition and pressured them into performing the care, despite not being legitimately disabled. Police say the encounters were nonconsensual and deceptive, as the caregivers believed they were assisting someone with genuine medical needs.
The latest arrest marks the third time Deas has faced criminal charges for similar conduct. He was previously arrested in 2019 and 2021, with authorities citing nearly identical methods used to lure caregivers. In earlier cases, prosecutors said Deas posed either as a disabled individual or as a relative seeking care on behalf of someone else.
In the most recent case, Deas has been charged with human trafficking, a charge that law enforcement says reflects the use of fraud and coercion to exploit victims for personal purposes. Investigators believe there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward.
Authorities are urging anyone who may have interacted with Deas through caregiving platforms or who believes they were targeted by a similar scheme to contact local law enforcement.
The investigation remains ongoing, and Deas is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Video Via WAFB
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