This piece outlines allegations that an East Baton Rouge councilman steered public money through a consulting contract, funneled much of it into his own businesses, and now faces federal charges amid a broader local corruption probe.
East Baton Rouge Metro Councilman Cleve Dunn stands accused of turning a $50,000 consulting deal with the Capital Area Transit System into a personal payday, and federal authorities have moved to hold him to account. Prosecutors have indicted Dunn on multiple felony counts, including bribery, money laundering, public contract fraud, illegal split commission of commodities, malfeasance in office, and conspiracy.
The basic allegation is straightforward and ugly: Dunn allegedly used his position to steer public work to friendly firms, then arranged for most of the funds to be routed back to a business linked to him. Investigators say the consulting agreement was steered to Supreme Solutions, a firm connected to contractor Jarion “Jay” Collar, and that the deal was pushed through using Dunn’s influence over CATS.
CATS reportedly paid Supreme Solutions in two installments, and records show at least $33,000 of the payment flowed to an entity identified in the documents as “C.G.,” which investigators tied to Core Group LLC. That same trail of payments led back to companies associated with Dunn, suggesting the money shifted from Supreme Solutions into his orbit after the public payout.
Sources familiar with the probe allege Supreme Solutions provided deliverables that didn’t match the price tag or the promise of expert work. Investigators say portions of the company’s reports were copied almost verbatim from a Canadian transportation expert’s study, raising questions about whether the commission was ever justified on its merits.
This episode is not isolated. Federal filings and reporting link Dunn to a broader network of questionable transactions in Baton Rouge, including a developer named Bradley Brown who received roughly $6 million in federal housing funds tied to a project Dunn supported. Investigators uncovered text messages between Dunn and Brown that mentioned “payments and returns on investment” in the days before the council vote.
The allegations also intersect with a wider federal probe that reached Mayor-President offices in 2024, when FBI agents served subpoenas connected to contracts and dealings around CATS. The former mayor later received a target letter in a related bribery matter, underscoring how this transit authority became a recurring spot for scrutiny by investigators.
Local officials have already tried to limit Dunn’s remaining influence. Another council member filed a measure seeking his removal from the city’s airport commission, citing what they called an abuse of power. That move reflects a quick political response, but it also highlights how entrenched authority can shield questionable conduct until outside investigators intervene.
For conservatives who favor accountability and limits on government power, the case reinforces a simple point: local office can be a lucrative place for corruption when oversight is weak and networks of favoritism run unchecked. The indictments against Dunn raise the obvious question of how many other local decisions were shaped by private gain rather than public interest.
Federal charges may force a closer look at contracts, voting records, and private communications tied to CATS and other local agencies, and they may prompt calls for tougher ethics rules and clearer contracting safeguards. Whatever happens in court, the saga has already exposed a pattern of behavior that demands scrutiny from citizens who want honest, efficient local government rather than a system that rewards insiders.
