An explosive new undercover investigation by O’Keefe Media Group (OMG) launched Monday on X has blown the lid off a large federal contracting scandal, a $100 billion scheme exploiting taxpayer-funded minority-preference packages underneath the Biden Administration.
In a stunning undercover video posted on X, OMG revealed how ATI Authorities Options, a federal contractor supposedly “Native American-owned,” admitted to exploiting the Small Enterprise Administration’s 8(a) program to seize over $100 million in no-bid authorities contracts, whereas outsourcing as much as 80% of the work to different companies.
“I inform you pass-throughs are an important factor!”
“We solely do 20%… The remainder goes to subs.”
“And bear in mind, there’s no competitors.”
James O’Keefe, posing as representatives from a pretend cybersecurity agency known as “Sev-Zero Options,” met Cromwell underneath the guise of hiring her catering facet enterprise.
Inside minutes, the ATI govt bragged about how the corporate leverages its Native American tribal affiliation with the Susanville Indian Rancheria to acquire unique federal contracts, then turns round and pays subcontractors to do virtually all of the work.
O’Keefe Media Group (OMG) reported:
Inside two minutes of sitting down with Melayne at a restaurant in Arlington, Virginia, she volunteered your entire scheme – no prompting, no hesitation. She advised us she was the Director of Contracts for ATI Authorities Options. Then she dropped the actual bombshell:
“As a result of we’re Native American-owned, we’re closely favored for presidency contracts.” “There’s no bidding warfare.” Mentioned Cromwell
She defined how ATI makes use of its tribal standing to lock down multi-million greenback no-bid contracts, then passes off nearly all of the work to subcontractors-firms that may by no means qualify on their very own. In the meantime, ATI retains the lion’s share of the money. Cromwell revealed to our undercover journalist;
“So, a number of our subcontractors bid on contracts that had been good of their business, however as a result of they weren’t Native American, they wouldn’t win it,” she mentioned. “So we bid on it for them, they turn into our sub, and it’s an automated win since you’re Native American standing. There’s no bidding warfare.”
Underneath the 8(a) system, meant to empower deprived companies, “pass-through” contractors comparable to ATI function paper fronts, taking a lot of the cash off the highest whereas doing little or not one of the work. Cromwell admitted the corporate performs solely 20% of its multi-million-dollar no-bid federal contracts, subcontracting out the remaining 80% – a textbook case of a “pass-through” scheme.
“Right. Yeah. They’re doing a lot of the work. However you need to actually keep on, ensure they’re on time.”
“So, we do about 20% of the work.”
“You don’t need to share that,” – Cromwell added.
In brief, ATI secures the contracts, will get the cash, acts as a passthrough and it’s the tax payer who will get screwed over.
On paper, ATI is owned by the Susanville Indian Rancheria, a federally acknowledged native american tribal entity, in northern california.
Arian confirmed to us that in the event that they had been to seem because the homeowners of our firm it might make it simpler to acquire authorities contracts, and goes on to assert that we could must relinquish 51% of the possession to them.
OMG Undercover Journalist: “So actually, it’s actually simply developing with a quantity that you’d need in an effort to seem like the proprietor of our firm. So we’ll talk about what share you’ll get after we come to the signing of the contract.”
Arian: “A few of that’s, will likely be decided by the 8(a) company, So we could must be like 51%”
Melayne confirms that ATI is abiding by this 51% tribal possession…on paper.
“51% On paper. Right. so long as it’s on paper. That you just’re 51%, you’re good to go.” Mentioned Cromwell.
ATI could also be 51% tribally owned by the Susanville Indian Rancheria ON PAPER, However Melayne revealed to us that ATI was based in collaboration with the Rancheria by two caucasian DC executives; Firmadge Crutchfeld and Scott Deutschman. And that they handle all of ATI’s operations.
In 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration awarded a record-breaking $183 billion in federal contracts to “small companies,” together with these underneath “socially deprived” classes like 8(a).
However because the OMG exposé exhibits, many of those companies are entrance firms exploiting racial-preference loopholes to funnel billions to non-public consultants and politically related insiders.
This comes on the heels of the U.S. Supreme Courtroom’s 2025 ruling in Kousisis v. United States, which discovered that falsely claiming minority standing to acquire federal contracts constitutes wire fraud, even when the contracted work is accomplished.
After being contacted for remark, Cromwell denied any ongoing affiliation with ATI, claiming she was not approved to talk on behalf of the corporate and that her prior feedback had been made underneath false pretenses.
Pricey O’Keefe Media Group,
Following my earlier electronic mail, I wish to make clear that on the time of our preliminary interplay, you didn’t determine yourselves as representatives of O’Keefe Media Group. You launched yourselves and carried out that assembly underneath the title Sev Zero Options, which was the one entity I understood to be concerned.
I used to be not knowledgeable that our dialog or any recording was affiliated with O’Keefe Media Group. Roughly a month later, people out of your group approached me unexpectedly in a car parking zone with cameras, revealing that they had been with O’Keefe Media Group and had been disguised (together with using a wig) through the prior assembly.
No matter any state consent legal guidelines, I didn’t consent to the use or public dissemination of my picture, voice, or statements in any type of media, and I don’t authorize O’Keefe Media Group or any affiliated events to take action. Please be sure that no portion of those interactions or my title is used, revealed, or referenced in connection together with your group.
I reserve all rights relating to any unauthorized use or distribution of my picture, likeness, or statements.
Greatest regards,
Melayne A.C. Richards
This revelation may simply be the start. O’Keefe Media Group teased that Half 2 of its investigation will characteristic one other ATI director caught on digicam admitting comparable schemes.
WATCH:
$100 Billion Federal Contracting Rip-off Uncovered: 8(a) Agency Admits to Violating Federal Regulation, Utilizing Minority-Owned Standing as a Entrance to Acquire $100M+ No-Bid Authorities Contracts Whereas Outsourcing 80% of the Work.
ATI Authorities Options Contract Supervisor, Melayne Cromwell Admits to… pic.twitter.com/Jxvkb2vNOA
— O’Keefe Media Group (@OKeefeMedia) October 20, 2025
