Following the bombshell O’Keefe Media Group (OMG) investigation exposing ATI Authorities Options’ alleged exploitation of the Small Enterprise Administration’s 8(a) minority contracting program, SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler has formally introduced that the company has launched a full investigation into each ATI Authorities Options and the Susanville Indian Rancheria.
As beforehand reported by The Gateway Pundit, O’Keefe Media Group launched a bombshell undercover video displaying ATI Authorities Options Contract Supervisor Melayne Cromwell describing how the corporate exploited its tribal 8(a) standing to win multi-million greenback no-bid contracts from federal businesses.
Cromwell admitted ATI performs solely 20% of the work, subcontracting the remaining 80%, a direct violation of Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.219-14, which requires prime contractors to finish at the very least half of the labor.
“We solely do 20%… the remaining goes to subs,” she stated.
“As a result of we’re Native American-owned, we’re closely favored for presidency contracts… there’s no bidding warfare.”
On paper, ATI is 51% owned by the Susanville Indian Rancheria, however Cromwell acknowledged that is solely “on paper.” The corporate is allegedly run by two white D.C. executives, Firmadge Crutchfield and Scott Deutschman, who deal with operations and reap the income.
The investigation revealed that tribal possession was getting used as a proxy to funnel authorities contracts to ineligible corporations by way of “pass-through” schemes, successfully defrauding taxpayers whereas enriching intermediaries.
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In a press release launched Monday, Loeffler confirmed that the SBA’s Workplace of Inspector Normal is conducting a sweeping assessment of the 8(a) program, a system initially supposed to assist deprived small companies compete within the federal market, however which has as an alternative turn into a magnet for fraud and abuse.
“SBA has launched an investigation into ATI Authorities Options and Susanville Indian Rancheria,” Loeffler declared.
“For this reason we now have been conducting a full assessment of the 8(a) Program, ostensibly designed to assist ‘socially and economically deprived’ small companies compete within the federal market. But, what we’ve found up to now has been institutionalized abuse, which doubtlessly quantities to billions of {dollars} in federal contracts which might be run by way of shell corporations, fraudulent pass-throughs, and different schemes.”
Loeffler revealed that the SBA had already begun tightening oversight of minority-preference contracting applications months previous to the O’Keefe revelations:
“That’s why in February, the SBA took rapid motion to slash 8(a) contracting targets throughout the federal authorities. In June, we launched an audit of this system to assessment each 8(a) contract for the final 15 years. And in July, we rescinded the contracting authority of USAID, which was concerned in an enormous bribery scandal.”
Loeffler credited O’Keefe Media Group’s reporting for spotlighting deep corruption embedded inside the system:
“@JamesOKeefeIII has uncovered an necessary fact. Like each different authorities program rooted in DEI, the 8(a) Program is rife with grift and fraud.”
The Administrator pledged sweeping reforms to wash up this system and safeguard taxpayers from additional abuse:
“Below my management, the SBA is dedicated to restoring integrity and implementing robust reforms to guard U.S. taxpayers from additional abuse. The complete audit is ongoing, and whistleblowers could contact https://sbax.sba.gov/oigcss/.”
SBA has launched an investigation into ATI Authorities Options and Susanville Indian Rancheria.
For this reason we now have been conducting a full assessment of the 8(a) Program, ostensibly designed to assist “socially and economically deprived” small companies compete within the federal… https://t.co/ndSBDJFXtN
— Kelly Loeffler (@SBA_Kelly) October 20, 2025
