BATON ROUGE - Two more people were indicted as part of an investigation into theft and criminal conspiracy at the Capital Area Transportation System.

Terral "TJ" Jackson Jr. and Erica Jackson were both added to an earlier indictment on a count of theft of $25,000 or more and conspiracy to commit theft of $25,000. The specific allegations against them were not immediately available.

Minutes from a September 2021 CATS meeting indicate Terral "TJ" Jackson was doing public relations work for CATS.

Arrest documents say on Aug. 21, Broad Innovation Marketing Firm, which is operated by the Jacksons, was awarded a contract with CATS. Documents said former CAO Pearline Thomas approved an invoice of $49,000. 

Additionally, documents say Thomas sent text messages to an unnamed individual around May 2021 that she received authority to change the vendor on another CATS contract. The unnamed individual was described as a "close friend" with the Jacksons who orchestrated the awarding of the contract, with the introduction being made in Feb. 2021.

The contract stated CATS' work with Broad Innovation Marketing Firm involved addressing a COVID-19 Mitigation Research Grant - Contactless Payment Project, but documents say the money was used to "galvanize the public to vote for the upcoming CATS millage," which was not mentioned in the contract.

Court records say funding would not have been awarded to Broad Innovation Marketing Firm "had it not been orchestrated by the Jacksons and the unnamed individual... then Thomas exerted her influence at CATS by circumventing CATS' procurement process and proper vetting of the vendor."

Last week, Thomas, CATS' former CAO, and Jarion "Jay" Colar were arrested with the same charges; Thomas also faces charges of prohibited use of public funds and malfeasance in office.

According to arrest warrants, Thomas approved a $50,000 contract to Jay Colar's company, Supreme Solutions Consulting, without following the proper approval process. In addition, investigators say they found no evidence that the work Colar was contracted to do was performed, but they also uncovered that the work that was turned in was fraudulent and copied from a report written by a transportation expert in Canada.

The initial indictment, which was filed by Attorney General Liz Murrill, says that Thomas, Colar, and one other person, identified as "C.D.," allegedly stole $25,000 between August 2021 and February 2022. 

WBRZ has previously reported that "C.D." is Metro Councilmember Cleve Dunn. 

Dunn started Colar's company, Supreme Solutions, in 2017. He appointed his wife, Stacey Posey Dunn, as the registered agent just days later. She used her maiden name in the paperwork.

The Supreme Solutions contract at the center of the case was awarded July 12, 2021, and Colar was signed as the registered agent a month later.