Comedian Carliemar White Sued for ‘Fake Federal Agent’ Prank: Inside the Viral Video That Sparked a Federal Lawsuit

When comedy collides with criminal law, the punchline can get expensive. That’s what internet comedian Carliemar White III — better known to millions online as Agent Ratliff — is learning the hard way.

White, a popular Atlanta-based performer whose pranks often blur the line between satire and realism, now finds himself facing a federal lawsuit after one of his “fake inspection” skits went too far for a Louisiana business owner.

According to court filings, Holmes Building Materials and supervisor Derek Jones lodged a civil complaint in the Middle District of Louisiana on October 1, alleging that White’s viral prank — filmed on August 1 and later posted online — amounted to criminal impersonation, defamation, false imprisonment, and battery. (CNN, court filings, Oct. 2025)

The video, viewed more than 120,000 times across TikTok and Instagram, shows White arriving at the company’s Baton Rouge location dressed in a black tactical vest and sporting a badge marked “OCDA” — short for Occupational Cares Diversity Affairs, a fictional agency inspired by OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration).

‘Agent Ratliff’ Goes Too Far

According to the complaint, White and two accomplices claimed to represent OSHA and confronted Jones over alleged workplace misconduct. The lawsuit alleges that during the skit, White accused Jones of “racism, nepotism, and poor hygiene,” even suggesting that the manager had called Black employees “monkeys.” (WBRZ Baton Rouge; The Guardian)

The company says the scene quickly turned from parody to intimidation. The filing claims White’s team “blocked the doorway,” refused to let Jones leave, and at one point, White “blew cigarette smoke in his face” while demanding answers.

Those actions, the lawsuit argues, went beyond entertainment and created the impression that Jones was under legitimate federal investigation.

“White’s conduct was calculated to deceive,” the complaint reads. “Holmes Building Materials staff permitted entry only because they believed the defendants were legitimate federal officers.” (The New York Times, Oct. 2025)

White Fires Back: ‘They Lied on Me’

White, who spoke exclusively to Atlanta Black Star, says he was blindsided by the legal filing.

“I found out on Facebook when someone tagged me in a Baton Rouge news post,” White said. “Then I told my lawyer, and we’re handling it. They’re not gonna win because they lied.”

He insists he never claimed to represent a federal agency.

“They said I told people I was from OSHA,” he added. “I would never say that. The feds already raided my house over that last year — why would I still be saying that?”

White refers to an earlier incident in 2024 when U.S. Department of Labor agents reportedly searched his Atlanta home after a similar prank went viral in which his character “Agent Ratliff” jokingly introduced himself as “from OSHA Cares.” (Reuters, 2024 Department of Labor report)

He says the new lawsuit distorts what actually happened.

“That’s defamation. They lied on me,” White said. “They made everyone go back and rewatch the video — and it proves them wrong.”

The Internet Weighs In

Social media reaction was swift and polarized. On Threads, fans called the situation “predictable but unfair,” arguing that White’s exaggerated acting style clearly marked the video as satire.

“His videos are hilarious,” one viewer wrote. “But I knew he’d get in trouble eventually.”

Another warned, “This YouTube prank stuff is dangerous — someone’s gonna get hurt or arrested one day, and it won’t be funny anymore.”

On X (formerly Twitter), users debated whether Holmes Building Materials had overreacted.

“There’s no way anyone believed that man was a real federal agent,” one person tweeted. “The badge literally said OCDA. That’s not even a thing.”

But others sided with the company.

“If you walk into someone’s business pretending to be a government investigator, that’s intimidation, not comedy,” one critic wrote.

Inside the Viral Video

The nine-minute clip shows White approaching Jones in a small office, questioning him about supposed workplace complaints. While the tone is confrontational, the footage does not show Jones being physically restrained or blocked from leaving — contrary to the lawsuit’s claims.

At one point, White lights a cigarette and puffs dramatically, but never directs smoke at Jones. Instead, he plays up the absurdity of the scene — a tactic that’s become a hallmark of his comedic persona.

Legal experts say intent won’t necessarily protect him.

“Even if it’s parody, impersonating a federal official can violate U.S. law,” said entertainment attorney David Healy, noting that federal statutes prohibit any form of government impersonation that might cause confusion. (The Hollywood Reporter)

From TikTok Fame to Courtroom Drama

White, originally from St. Petersburg, Florida, built his following during the 2020 pandemic with workplace parody sketches and “mock HR visits.” His “OCDA” series, launched in mid-2023, became a viral sensation, earning him 1.3 million TikTok followers and nearly half a million on Instagram in less than a year.

He’s performed alongside comedy veterans Mike Epps and Lavell Crawford and even released a satirical single titled “Never Do S#!T at Work” — which Billboard described as “a viral anthem for anyone fed up with corporate nonsense.”

The Holmes lawsuit isn’t the first time his character has drawn controversy. In 2024, YouTube briefly removed several of his videos for violating its “harmful content” policy, though they were later reinstated after fans protested the takedown (Variety).

Now, White says he’s preparing to file a countersuit against Holmes Building Materials, accusing the company of defamation and trademark infringement.

“We got our stuff registered and trademarked,” he said. “So now they’re gonna have to pay me.”

Comedy in the Age of Consequences

The case has ignited a broader debate over how far comedians can go in the pursuit of viral fame.

As The Washington Post observed in a recent feature on prank culture, “The social media age rewards extremity — and often punishes it in courtrooms later.”

White, meanwhile, remains unfazed.

“People need to stop being scared,” he said in a new Instagram Live session. “If you’re doing something creative, don’t let anyone threaten you with lawsuits. Just keep going — make people laugh.”

Whether a federal judge will find his antics funny remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: Agent Ratliff’s latest “investigation” might end up being his most serious yet.