Woman Charged with Human Trafficking in Louisiana

A seriously ill man in Louisiana has been charged with human trafficking after pretending to be disabled online to lure caregivers to his home for diaper changes. This isn’t his first encounter with the law; he’s been arrested twice before for similar offenses.

Rutledge Deese IV, aged 35, was taken into custody on Thursday. He allegedly used an online nanny service to seek care for someone he claimed had special needs, directing the caregiver to his home in Lafayette, as reported by local authorities.

When the caregiver arrived, Deese supposedly pretended to be disabled, stating he required assistance with tasks related to infant care, including changing diapers.

He faces a charge of human trafficking.

Deese’s history includes arrests for comparable schemes in 2019 and 2021. Back in 2020, he received probation after pleading guilty to multiple counts of sexual assault and human trafficking. In that case, he falsely advertised seeking home health care for his “mentally and physically disabled” brother.

In those previous incidents, he masqueraded as a caregiver’s relative while engaging in adult diaper changes.

Moreover, in 2021, he impersonated a young person with special needs looking for “alternative therapy” and attempted to persuade a babysitter to change his diaper. This led to another arrest, and he later pleaded guilty to human trafficking in 2022, receiving a suspended 10-year prison sentence followed by five years of probation upon release.

Currently, Deese is detained at the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center. Authorities are urging anyone with relevant information to contact the Louisiana Special Victims Unit at 504-310-7012.