Larry Dale Dunkin, Conflict of Interest Charge, AR 2024

Larry Dale Dunkin, 64, of Cabot, has admitted to exploiting his position as a former federal contracting officer to line his own pockets, pleading guilty to a federal conflict of interest charge tied to a $22,500 USDA contract awarded to a company in which his wife held a direct financial stake. The deal reeks of backroom favoritism, undermining the integrity of a public agency meant to serve farmers—not enrich insiders.

Dunkin, once a trusted official with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), admitted in a Little Rock courtroom before Chief U.S. District Judge Brian S. Miller that in March 2013, he knowingly awarded the contract to Young Enterprises, LLC. Records show his wife was a part-owner and the company’s listed address matched the couple’s home—making the connection impossible to ignore.

The NRCS, originally known as the Soil Conservation Service, operates under a mandate to protect natural resources through partnerships with private landowners. But Dunkin twisted that mission, using his authority to funnel taxpayer dollars into a business tied directly to his household. Upon completion of the contract, the USDA transferred approximately $22,500 into a bank account jointly held by Dunkin and his wife—money that never should have left the agency’s coffers.

Charged under Title 18, United States Code, Section 208—commonly known as the conflict of interest statute—Dunkin faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a $100 special assessment. Judge Miller will determine his sentence at a later date, but the damage to public trust has already been done.

The investigation was led by the USDA’s Office of Inspector General, which continues to root out fraud and abuse within the agency’s programs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hunter Bridges prosecuted the case, sending a clear message: federal employees who betray their oaths for personal gain will be held accountable.

If you have information about fraud involving USDA programs, you can report it online at https://www.usda.gov/oig/hotline.php. In a system built on transparency, whistleblowers are the last line of defense against corruption like Dunkin’s.