The 抖阴h attorney general says as a grand jury continues to investigate corruption tied to Baton Rouge鈥檚 public transit system 鈥� led to felony charges against Metro for allegedly taking bribes and secretly profiting from taxpayer funds.
Dunn was indicted by a special grand jury on nine counts, including bribery, public contract fraud, money laundering, theft and a slew of conspiracy charges.
In an arrest warrant issued for Dunn, investigators say the councilman used his political position to help steer a $50,000 Capital Area Transit System contract to a consulting firm he secretly controlled. He then collected nearly all of the contract鈥檚 proceeds through his own company while concealing his involvement from transit officials and the public, agents say.
鈥淒unn was aware that his oversight authority of operating funds provided to CATS prohibited his ability to lawfully receive public funds from CATS,鈥� prosecutors wrote.
Dunn, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment, was added to an indictment that already charged four others.
On Jan. 14, former CATS Chief Administrative Officer Pearlina Thomas and contractor Jarian 鈥淛ay鈥� Colar were indicted with theft, conspiracy and misuse of public funds. Last week, the same grand jury added Terral 鈥淭J鈥� Jackson and Erica Jackson to the charges of theft and conspiracy.
Colar鈥檚 company, Supreme Solutions, was awarded a contract for $50,000 in 2021 to 鈥渆xplore new streams of revenue鈥� for CATS. Prosecutors accuse Dunn of steering that contract to Colar, with whom he had a close personal relationship, and then receiving a major portion of those funds.
鈥淎gents learned Dunn had received nearly $45,000 (over 90%) of the funds issued from CATS to Supreme Solutions,鈥� investigators wrote.
As previously reported by 抖阴h, in Dunn鈥檚 arrest warrant, 抖阴h Bureau of Investigation agents say Dunn originally started Supreme Solutions and only turned it over to Colar after the CATS contract was in effect.
鈥淒unn subsequently profited from the contract to Supreme Solutions through kickbacks received from Jarian Colar,鈥� prosecutors said.
According to multiple arrest documents, Attorney General Liz Murrill鈥檚 investigation sprang from a probe by FBI into 鈥渁llegations of public officials who allegedly accepted bribes and misused their positions.鈥�
Colar was interviewed by agents about the alleged conspiracy more than three years ago, and agents found that he did not have full control of Supreme鈥檚 finances. When Colar became aware of a possible investigation into the company, he opened a new bank account for the business.
鈥淔inancial records also indicate that Colar opened a new Supreme bank account on or about September 21, 2022, at 16:58,鈥� agents wrote in Dunn鈥檚 arrest warrant. 鈥淥n the same day, at approximately 11:58 AM, the agents contacted Colar for the first time and informed him of their interest in interviewing him.鈥�
Agents say Colar told investigators the ownership transfer from Dunn to him was done for 鈥渙ptics.鈥�
After Dunn鈥檚 indictment was read on Wednesday, lead prosecutor Alex Calenda told the courtroom a warrant had been issued for his arrest.
In a statement following Dunn鈥檚 indictment, Murrill鈥檚 office said they expect more people to be implicated.
鈥淲e expect additional indictments based upon this ongoing grand jury investigation,鈥� said spokesperson Lester Duh茅.