In a stunning escalation of accountability, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has officially suspended ATI Government Solutions LLC – the Native American “8(a)” front exposed in O’Keefe Media Group’s (OMG) undercover investigation – from all new federal business. The move, announced just days after OMG’s revelations of a brazen $100 million pass-through fraud, bars the company and three key executives from bidding on contracts, subcontracts, or set-asides, effectively slamming the door on hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars meant for disadvantaged small businesses.
SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler confirmed the suspension in a pair of X posts today, stating: “As of today, the SBA has officially suspended ATI Government Solutions, which is majority-owned by Susanville Indian Rancheria, as well as three of its executives, from conducting any new business with the federal government.” Loeffler emphasized that while the investigation continues, “ATI and its referenced executives will not be permitted to bid for federal contracts, subcontracts, or set-asides, and will not be able to receive any federal assistance.”
The SBA’s action follows a formal Notice of Suspension dated October 21, 2025, issued under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 9.407 and Title 48 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Addressed to CEO Firmadge Crutchfield and the Susanville Indian Rancheria (Attn: Arian Hart), the letter notifies ATI of its immediate debarment pending response, citing the company’s “paper” 51% Native ownership as a shield for non-Native executives to exploit the program. Suspended individuals include Crutchfield, CFO Marina Mulyayeva (his wife and a former Olympic swimmer), and CDO Scott Deuschman – the Washington, D.C.-based trio running the show behind the Susanville facade.
OMG’s two-part exposé, first breaking the story on federal-contractor-fraud, laid bare how ATI pockets up to 65% of massive IRS contracts while outsourcing 80% of the work to ineligible giants like Ireland-based Accenture – in direct violation of SBA rules mandating that 8(a) primes perform at least 50% of the labor and the “primary and vital” functions. Undercover footage captured ATI Senior Director Anish Abraham boasting about the scheme during a staged job interview with OMG’s fictitious cybersecurity firm, Sev Zero Solutions.
“So the new contract that we’ve signed up for is basically close to $100 million,” Abraham revealed, breaking down the split: “65% for us being the prime fulfilling, and then 35 for Accenture.” When pressed on his role, Abraham admitted that it’s more of a pass through. Abraham also doubled down on the Native status as ironclad protection: “I don’t think they will dare to touch the Native Americans.”
In a follow-up sting, former ATI Contracts Director Melayne Cromwell – recently fired and now pivoting to catering – spilled more dirt. “You can’t just be a pass-through… There’s some that do it, but you don’t do it on a large scale,” she warned, before exposing how ATI kicks off subcontractor work pre-contract: “Once you know you’re going to win something… you just start working.” Cromwell also alleged Mulyayeva forged stop-work orders in her name: “There was an occasion… where Marina would send the letter on my behalf…”
Abraham let slip ATI’s shoestring operation: no real office, just short-term rentals for show. “You don’t have to do office spaces. Don’t spend the rent.” And the payoffs? Abraham pulls $350,000 a year; his boss clears over $1 million – for “flying under the radar” and skimming 65% while Accenture does the heavy lifting.
Loeffler’s office revealed coordination with the Department of Justice: “We have been in contact with the Department of Justice and will continue to provide updates as they become available.”
This suspension isn’t just a win for OMG’s citizen journalism – it’s a blow to the multi-billion-dollar 8(a) grift preying on programs designed to empower the disadvantaged. As Abraham put it, the scam thrives because “they make good money though.” Not anymore. The feds are watching, and the truth – once buried – is clawing its way out.
