Episode 13: Runaway Girls

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Special Agent Amber Mann serves in the FBI's Omaha's Division. She has been in the FBI since 2019, where she works human trafficking and violent crimes against children (VCAC).  Amber leads the HT/VCAC task force, which is extremely busy. In her episode Amber shares with us what her journey from working for the  Industry Operations Investigator for Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms  as an Industry Operations Investigator and then as a BATF Agent. Amber talks to us about trafficking in her area of responsibility and also shares with us cases of runaway girls that ended up being trafficked and sold online. She talks to us about victims, vulnerabilities predators look for, and what we can do to keep our children safe. She also shares with what it is like to be a woman working these type of cases and how being a woman helps in this type of investigations. 

Retired SSA Beth O'Brien joined the Bureau in  1990 and served in the FBI for 28 years! She went from lawyer to Special Agent and from suits to tactical gear. She was first assigned to Norfolk, VA, where she became the 4th female Agent.  Beth quickly adapted to the law enforcement world and racked up 72 convictions while in Norfolk! She worked white collar and environmental crimes. She then promoted to Supervisory Special Agent at the FBI's Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where she left a legacy- she wrote up the SOP for the environmental unit. After a couple of years at HQ, she got a desk in Knoxville, TN becoming the first female Supervisor. She oversaw the White Collar, Cyber and Civil Rights squad. After stepping down, she assisted the CDC (Chief Division Counsel) and worked CI matters to include working leads related threats to Oak Ridge. Think Oppenheimer!

Retired SSA Lou Ann Sandstrom has 30 years in public service, 28 of which she dedicated to the FBI.  Lou Ann completed the Chicago Police Department Academy and the FBI Academy back to back! While completing the Chicago PD Academy, she got a letter acceptance to Quantico! She was certainly prepared! After graduation, she was assigned to the Oklahoma Division, where she worked narcotics, terrorism, and was part of the reactive squad responding to robberies. She became the first female SWAT operator and went on to become a crisis negotiator and later a polygrapher. She traveled overseas as a crisis negotiator and polygrapher.  She traveled to Kabul to examine Afghani law enforcement officers and Judges, who were chosen to participate on a CT Task Force, and to Tunisia during the Arab Spring to oversee a CT polygraph. A fun fact about Lou Ann, she executed her first arrest in high heels! Lou Ann, badass in  heels!

Retired SSA Stephanie Yanta shares with us her life and journey in law enforcement and in the military. From joining the Indiana University ROTC to becoming the first female Commander for a newly formed 638th Military Intelligence Battalion, to joining the Bureau and kicking butt! Stephanie served in the FBI for 25 years, where she investigated cold homicide cases, narcotics, cyber, and terrorism. During her FBI tenure, Stephanie was the case agent of the largest drug seizure in the history of the D.C. area and was a member of the Hazardous Materials Response Team. Stephanie operated in overseas environments having deployed to the Middle East, Afghanistan three times, Europe and Africa. She earned the highest award within the Department of Justice, the Attorney General’s Award, for her efforts during the May 2010 Times Square attempted bombing. Stephanie retired as an FBI profiler from the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU).

Retired SSA Grace O'Neill had a 24-year law enforcement career journey. From working as a police officer in the Chula Vista Police Department to her fabulous 21 year career in the Bureau in the Santa Ana Resident Agency, now known as Orange County RA, where she worked narcotics, white collar, and counterterrorism. Grace brought her police work expertise--narcotics-- to the Bureau and was taking down entire networks. Just as many of us law enforcement women, Grace struggled from the beginning of her career with finding the perfect suit! The little things that matter when you have to carry a weapon, creds, handcuffs, and are a woman! After retirement, she became the "Edna Mode" of the FBI- superhero to the rescue!! Grace created Fit For Duty Clothier, which specializes in suits for law enforcement women- how spectacular is this!  For the perfect suit, visit https://fitfordutyclothier.com/