Amanda Marks

Amanda Marks

Amanda B. Marks is a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent and Intelligence Analyst, she is a current member of the Child Exploitation Investigations Group (CEIG) at HSI Los Angeles.

## Early Life

Amanda Belle Marks was born in Pasadena, California on February 19, 1996. She is the only child of Richard Marks, a financial advisor and Jennifer Marks (née Bell), a city attorney, she is also the niece of HSI Special Agent Sean Marks and his wife pediatrician Toni Marks (née Arwood). Amanda was born a dual citizen of the United States and the United Kingdom due to her mother being a UK citizen. Amanda was a well behaved but very active child and eventually started taking dance classes when she was 4. Amanda eventually gravitated towards ballet and proved to be a quick learner, she studied at the Pasadena Dance Theatre from age 4 to 12.

Amanda successfully auditioned for the Junior Session at the School of American Ballet when she was 11, after another successful audition she was invited to join the Winter Term, SAB's year-round training program. Amanda's parents were initially unsure how to make it work but eventually a family friend offered to be her temporary guardian so she could attend the SAB. Amanda started attending SAB full time in 2008 when she was 12 and quickly made friends with Lindsey Shaw, the two became best friends and eventually started dating. Amanda competed at the 2010 Youth America Grand Prix, winning the bronze medal in the junior category. During this time Amanda attended the Professional Children's School and despite SAB’s rigorous training and the effort involved, Amanda remained a straight A student and graduated a year early with a 4.0 GPA in May 2013.

## Career

Amanda became an apprentice with the New York City Ballet in October 2011, she was asked to join the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in March 2012. Amanda initially enjoyed her career, the culmination of her childhood dream, however she soon realized that she’d fallen in love with the romanticized notion of being a ballerina as opposed to the reality of a life in that career. Amanda found herself working long hours for practically nothing, receiving questionable treatment from instructors, and working through mounting injuries. Amanda was also dealing with intense isolation, she was 16 and alone in a city without her parents or Lindsey, while dealing with constant stress and pain.

In November 2013 Amanda on a whim decided to apply to college at Barnard College, she reasoned if she made it and got to be in the same city as Lindsey then it was meant to be and if not she could keep dancing for the meantime. In January 2014 Amanda was offered the position of soloist, she accepted however by that time she realized her heart wasn’t in it anymore and was desperately hoping for good news on her Barnard application. In March 2014 Amanda was accepted to Barnard, her company was disappointed as they believed she had what it took to be a great dancer but they respected her decision, especially when she confided in them that she’d been one of George Hazen’s victims. Amanda’s parents on the other hand were ecstatic with the decision and believed she could really live up to the potential they always knew she had. In August 2014 Amanda’s short career as a ballerina came to an end and her life as a college student began.

## College

### Barnard College

Amanda attended Barnard College in 2014 where she majored in Computer Science with a minor in Biology. During her undergraduate studies Amanda met and became best friends with fellow Barnard student Kate Bailey. Amanda loved her post ballet life and despite her self imposed intensive study regimen, she genuinely considered her time at Barnard to be the highlight of her life. Amanda, having always wanted to attend an all female high school finally got her chance in college and went on to consider it as much a defining experience for who she is as her ballet career was.

Amanda was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa for her academic work in her junior undergraduate year. Amanda is also a member of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). Amanda and Kate were both accepted to the highly prestigious Barnard/Columbia University 4+1 Pathways program where students earn a BA from Barnard and a MS from Columbia in 5 years. Amanda graduated from Barnard College with a M.S. in May 2019 via their 5 year program. She graduated summa cum laude with a GPA of 3.992, earning spot on the Dean's List and a Superior Academic Achievement.

### University of Washington

After beginning her working career Amanda decided it was time for a new challenge and while searching mathematics programs online she found the Computational Linguistics program at the University of Washington. Amanda applied and was accepted in August 2020, she completed the course during her spare time and on weekends. Amanda graduated with a MS in Computational Linguistics in May 2022.

## HSI Career

While in college Amanda was accepted into the Pathways Internship Program with Homeland Security Investigations as a Series 1899 Investigation Student Trainee, during her internship Amanda worked at HSI New York. Amanda completed over two years of internship training between August 2017 to February 2019 and after graduation she was converted to a full time employee. Several factors included: the HSI looking for female employees, employees with computer skills and giving Pathways preferences to graduate students, that and having several prestigious connections with HSI, both those through her uncle Sean and ones she made herself during her internship. Because of her previous experience with the Pathways internship and her Master’s, Amanda qualified at the GL-9 level. In June 2019 Amanda’s background investigation has been completed and she’d received her final job offer, Amanda attended FLETC in Glynco, GA between July 2019 and January 2020. She found the Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) easier than most students due to her previous experience, she also excelled at the HSI Special Agent Training Program (HSI SAT) thanks to her experience during her internship and also from her uncle Sean giving her some of his old notebooks full of information about the course.

Amanda graduated in mid January of 2020 and was assigned to HSI Los Angeles her first choice location. Amanda’s first task upon arriving home in Los Angeles was to drive around the city with her training agent and learn to see it from the perspective of her new job. Amanda quickly got to know the seedier and darker side of the city and came to see what was really happening in the less tourist friendly areas of Los Angeles. Amanda initially felt that maybe she should have picked a different location where she had no previous life experience, her TA however explained that despite her never seeing this side of the city before the fact she was familiar with the city in general was an asset. Amanda’s second day on the job proved interesting when the father of an abuse victim who took her own life, because disruptive while visiting the field office and accidentally knocked Amanda over. Unfortunately Amanda hit her head on a desk that was next to her and briefly knocked her unconscious, she insisted that the father not be charged as it was an accident and the SAC begrudgingly agreed. Amanda was taken to the hospital and received several stitches and a concussion, she quickly recovered and was back at work. The father was released without charge and eventually apologized to Amanda and HSI.

Amanda was assigned to the Child Exploitation Investigations Group (CEIG), the CEIG is overseen by children’s safety expert Ella Grant who had known of Amanda and her background from Sean and had personally requested her for CEIG. Amanda quickly proved herself to be adept as both a general criminal investigator and a Digital Forensics/Cybercrime Investigator, she also proved herself in surveillance and became one of the team’s top surveillance agents. After Amanda was assigned to Los Angeles, Lindsey eventually moved there too and the two found a place together. Amanda completed her 12 month probationary period in January 2021, during this time SA Matthew Lambert served as her training agent. Afterwards the two often continued to work together and eventually became friends, Amanda also became friends with fellow CEIG member Oscar Reyes. Amanda and Lindsey quickly became best friends with Callie Roberts. Amanda and CEIG worked several high profile cases including; a UCLA computer science professor who was illegally surveilling students, a pediatrician who abused several underage patients and went on the run several years before, and a little league coach who was supplying underage players with steroids. They also shook up the amateur online adult entertainment industry when an up and coming male star was found to be underage.

### Speciality

As the Digital Forensics/Cybercrime Investigator for the CEIG, it’s Amanda’s job to conduct digital forensics examinations on cell phones, computers, networks, and other digital media and to write digital forensics reports. Digital forensics encompasses computer forensics, mobile device forensics, network forensics, database forensics, digital image forensics, and forensic data analysis. Digital forensics specialists use their computer hardware and software skills to locate, identify and recover any evidence of a digital nature, as well as using those same techniques to detect and assist in combating cybercrime. While all GEIG members have experience and training in basic digital forensics, dedicated digital forensics specialists are required for their expertise and knowledge in advanced areas of digital forensics not often used by general criminal investigators, they are often paramount in solving cases where digital evidence is present.

### Notable Cases

Amanda’s highest profile case came in June 2021 when she assisted DHS OIG in investigating the sexual assault of Monique Morrow, a female Border Patrol Agent by a male supervisor. Amanda helped uncover a series of disturbing emails that the suspect had sent to friends which contained pictures of Monique during the assault, also on the case was a AUSA from the Southern District of California. During the course of the investigation Amanda’s background came to light and the defense tried unsuccessfully to claim it was a personal vendetta by alleging that Amanda was doing this because she never had the chance to testify against George Hazen. This tactic was not only unsuccessful but also further turned the jury against the defendant and in the end the defendant was convicted. Amanda eventually became friends with Monique, who eventually left the Border Patrol and went to work for Customs and Border Protection in Los Angeles.

In September 2021 the CEIG worked the case of Robert E. Ingram, an assistant professor of computer science at UCLA. In early August 2021, CEIG named Ingram as a person of interest in a significant child exploitation case. Ingram had used his knowledge and access to the school’s computer systems to cover up his online activities, until two female students came forward with statements of inappropriate behavior from Ingram. CEIG gathered information about Ingram who eventually grew suspicious and left school property while no one was watching. Amanda, Matthew Lambert and Daniel Vega went to Ingram’s home in Echo Park to arrest him at 4:29pm on Tuesday September 20. After gaining entry, Ingram opened fire with a handgun and subsequently fled out the back before agents could return fire, Ingram was eventually located in a nearby yard adjacent to an alleyway where he had committed suicide with his handgun. The case and its aftermath caused a media sensation and CEIG members attended events at UCLA in an effort to educate students on how to spot and avoid predators like Ingram.

In March 2022 the CEIG investigated several allegations that a prominent male amateur adult performer had began his career while underage. Several of his former classmates eventually came forward and reported him, the individual who remained anonymous to protect his privacy, was only 16 when he began his adult channel during the March 2020 lockdown. CEIG investigated several high profile figures in the adult entertainment industry but ultimately laid no charges as the underage performer had an ID that he’d bought from a document fraud ring which was ran by an Asian organized crime group. CEIG and HSI received praise from several adult entertainment figures who they’d encountered during the investigation, it led to increased cooperation between the industry and the federal law enforcement community.

In August 2022 Amanda and Mark Kirby were conducting surveillance near UCLA when a call came through from a UCLA Police officer who was trying to apprehend a suspect. Amanda went to provide assistance while Mark called for additional backup, Amanda eventually located the officer and the suspect and a scuffle ensued. The officer was stabbed in the leg and Amanda was cut on the arm before she eventually disarmed and arrested the suspect before providing medical assistance to the officer. Amanda required stitches and was back to work in two weeks, the officer eventually made a full recovery despite some initial nerve damage. Amanda and the officer both received awards for their actions in the apprehension of the suspect.

In April 2023 CEIG investigated the case of a little league coach who was running a major child exploitation ring between himself and an associate in France. The case received widespread media attention and involved law enforcement in both the United States and France. The suspects were eventually tried and convicted of various crimes and sentenced to over 1000 years each.

### Service History

* **August 2017 to February 2019**: Pathways Internship Program (HSI New York)
* **July 2019 January 2020**: FLETC (CITP and HSI SAT)
* **January 2020 to Present**: HSI Los Angeles (CEIG)
* **Position**: HSI Special Agent and Intelligence Analyst
* **Grade**: GL-9 (2020 to 2021) GS-11 (2021 to 2022), GS-12 (2022 to 2023), GS-13 (2023 to Present)

## Personal Life

Amanda has been in a long term relationship with Lindsey Shaw since 2010, Amanda and Lindsey live together in Pasadena, CA. The two were eventually married on Thursday June 30, 2022, at a civil ceremony in San Francisco, CA. Amanda is demisexual and monogamous, she identifies as agnostic. Amanda is close to her parents and visits them often. Amanda is a Monday person, a Pisces, and a Fire Rat in the Chinese zodiac. Her mother and father are a Dog and Pig respectively, both in the Metal element.

Amanda is an avid reader and hiker, she still enjoys dancing in her spare time and has run 3 half marathons, she also enjoys riding motorcycles. Despite working in a predominantly male dominated industry, Amanda considers herself quite feminine and loves fashion and dressing up, she has what she calls ‘a creative style’. Amanda plays amateur baseball with a local law enforcement team, preferring to pitch. Amanda’s favorite color is green, her favorite food is chicken and her favorite dessert is cheesecake.

Amanda is fluent in English, Spanish and French, she also speaks some Italian and Portuguese. Amanda learned Spanish while growing up so she could communicate with her grandmother in her native language. She learned basic French in school and eventually taught herself to be fluent in it, she also learned to speak some Portuguese and Italian throughout her life and career.

Amanda’s Great-great-great-great aunt was Hertha Ayrton, a British engineer, mathematician, physicist and inventor, and suffragette. Amanda counts Ayrton with her interest in mathematics and engineering. Amanda was inspired in her early life by ballerinas Margot Fonteyn and Natalia Osipova, she credits them with developing her love of dance and her dream of being like them someday.

### Memoir

Amanda began writing her memoir as a diary in high school as a way of processing what happened to her and as a way of moving forward with her life. Amanda wrote her life story, from 4 to 18, during the latter half of her junior year and the beginning of her senior year. Both her therapist and her mother encouraged her to publish it and she eventually managed to find a publisher who liked her work, it was published in 2015 under the title **Dancing Through the Pain: My Journey from Abuse to Strength**. It subsequently became a modest hit and Amanda even spoke at her school about her journey so far.

Through an interesting twist of fate, Ella Grant had read the book back in 2016 before she’d met Amanda, Sean had mentioned it in passing. Ella having read Amanda’s book was one of the deciding factors in her specifically requesting Amanda for her team. Ella, an expert in crimes against children, recognized Amanda’s unique insight and wanted her to be part of the CEIG.

## Relationships

### Lindsey Shaw

Amanda and Lindsey Shaw met in 2010 while both were students at the School of American Ballet, the quickly became friends and began dating later in the year. Their relationship was long distance for 7 years between 2012 and 2019 when they lived separately due to work/school arrangements. They made it work and visited each other whenever they had the chance to. Amanda and Lindsey have been together full time since 2019. Amanda and Lindsey were married on Thursday June 30, 2022, at a civil ceremony in San Francisco, CA.

### Kate Bailey

Amanda met Kate Bailey on her first day at Bernard College, the two were part of the Computer Sciences department and both went one to being one of only around a dozen students to complete the Barnard/Columbia University 4+1 Pathways program in 2019. The two became roommates during graduate school and kept in touch after graduation. Amanda attended Kate’s wedding in 2020.

### Callie Roberts

Amanda met Callie Roberts, a computer forensics specialist on when she first reported for duty at HSI Los Angeles. The two quickly bonded over their shared love of computers and technology, Amanda and Callie often team up on cyber forensics matters and also spend time together outside of work. Amanda, Lindsey and Callie are also fashion lovers who often spend time together at fashion shows and events.

### Matthew Lambert

Matthew Lambert served as Amanda’s training agent and the two quickly became friends, they often team up on CEIG cases and work well together. Amanda and Matthew enjoy hiking and riding motorcycles together in their time off.

## Family

* **Lindsey Marks (née Shaw)**: Wife (Born 10/13/1994)
* **Jennifer Marks (née Bell)**: Mother (Born 1970)
* **Richard Marks**: Father (Born 1971)
* **James B. Marks**: Grandfather (Born 1948)
* **Louisa Marks (née Torres)**: Grandmother (Born 1945, Died 2009)
* **Sean Marks**: Uncle (Born 1975)
* **Toni Marks (née Arwood)**: Aunt (Born 1970)
* **Elizabeth Shaw**: Lindsey’s Mother (Born 1962)
* **Carlos Shaw**: Lindsey’s Father (Born 1959)

## Personal Information

* **Zodiac Sign**: Pisces (Fire Rat: Chinese zodiac)
* **Nationality**: American
* **Ethnicity**: Caucasian (English/European ancestry)
* **Religion**: None
* **Sexual Orientation**: Bisexual
* **Weight**: 125.6 lbs (57 kg)
* **Body Type**: Slim
* **Body Measurements**: 34/24/35 in
* **Bra Size**: 32B
* **Shoe Size**: 6 (US)
* **Dress Size**: 6 (US)

## Trivia

* Trademark: Often sports a French Ombré manicure
* Trademark: Almost always wears her hair in a bun or ponytail
* Amanda is left handed, but ambidextrous in most things apart from writing
* Amanda is a Sandan (3rd Dan) black belt in Shotokan Karate
* Amanda’s badge number is 9893
* Amanda owns a 2021 BMW M4 and a 2022 Triumph Street Triple
* Amanda carries a SIG-Sauer P320 X-Carry Pro (HSI standard issued sidearm)
* Amanda carries a Glock 43X as her off duty sidearm
* Amanda and Lindsey are both Trekkies
* Amanda and Lindsey have two pet rats, Stewart (named for Patrick Stewart) and Brooks (named for Avery Brooks)

## Quotes

* "I’m a Fire Rat! That means I’m small and cute, but I can still light everything on fire if you mess with me!"
* "All plans fail if you think too much about them."
* "I wasn’t expecting to get shot at today, so that was fun I guess."
* "If you stand outside someone’s place and loudly announce you’re from the CEIG (Child Exploitation Investigations Group), there’s a pretty good chance they’ll let you in to save face."
* "I mean… if you squint your eyes enough and turn your head at just the right angle it vaguely resembles a plan."
* "I missed out on so much, so many little life experiences people take for granted, ballet was my life for 14 years. I sacrificed everything for my dream and believe me it took everything, but I wouldn’t change my experience for anything." (Quote from her memoir)

## Qualifications

### Education

* **High School Diploma**: 2013 (Professional Children’s School)
* **Bachelor of Arts**: Computer Science (2018: Barnard College)
* **Master of Science**: Computer Science (2019: Bernard College/Columbia University)
* **Master of Science**: Computational Linguistics (2022: University of Washington)

### Law Enforcement

* **HSI Student Trainee/Intern**: August 2017 to February 2019 (Pathways Program)
* **HSI Special Agent**: January 2020 (FLETC)
* **HSI Intelligence Analyst**: January 2020 (by virtue of M.S. in Computer Science)
* **Digital Forensics/Cybercrime Investigator**: January 2020 (by virtue of M.S. in Computer Science)
* **Forensic Linguist**: May 2022 (by virtue of M.S. in Computational Linguistics)

## Memberships

* **Phi Beta Kappa Academic Honor Society** (2017)
* **Society of Women Engineers** (2015)