In Remembrance: Sandra Grimes, the Master Spy Hunter
Sandra Grimes, a former CIA investigator, played a pivotal role in unmasking Aldrich Ames, one of the most damaging spies in the history of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Grimes' contributions were instrumental in identifying Ames as a mole who betrayed numerous American assets to the Soviet Union.
Grimes, who worked at the CIA from the late 1960s, had a deep understanding of Soviet intelligence operations, having served in various critical counterintelligence roles, including section chief in the CIA’s counterintelligence group. Her analytical skills and pattern analysis were crucial in linking Ames’s unexplained wealth and secret interactions with Soviet agents, which raised suspicion and ultimately led to his exposure.
The investigation, which took place in the early 1990s, was part of a CIA-FBI task force. Grimes noticed that three times after Ames had lunch with a Soviet embassy official in Washington, D.C., he deposited thousands into his bank account. Additionally, Ames, who was the CIA’s counterintelligence chief for Soviet operations, known as "Rick," started wearing tailored suits, had his teeth capped, and made large purchases, including a new house and a Jaguar, all on a civil servant’s salary. These clues, along with Ames's financial distress and lifestyle, were pieces that Grimes and her colleagues pieced together to build the case against him.
Ames' actions were particularly damaging as he had access to sensitive CIA plans against the KGB and Soviet military intelligence. His betrayal caused the loss of numerous agents and assets, making it one of the most damaging incidents in U.S. intelligence history.
Ames was arrested in 1994 and pled guilty to espionage, after taking millions of dollars for his spy work for the Soviet Union. He is currently serving a life sentence.
Grimes' work was recognised for its significance in catching and stopping a Soviet agent who caused more damage to the national security of the United States than any spy in the history of the CIA. She was interviewed for the National Security Archive at George Washington University and co-authored a detailed account of the mole hunt, Circle of Treason, recounting her and the task force's efforts in uncovering Ames’s betrayal.
Sadly, Sandra Grimes passed away on July 25 at the age of 79. Her contributions to the intelligence community will be remembered for years to come.
[1] Grimes, S., & Wise, J. (2015). Circle of Treason: A CIA Account of Traitor Aldrich Ames and the Men He Betrayed. St. Martin's Press. [2] National Security Archive. (n.d.). Sandra Grimes Oral History. Retrieved from https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/news/20150727/grimes-oral-history.pdf
- In the book "Circle of Treason: A CIA Account of Traitor Aldrich Ames and the Men He Betrayed," Grimes and her co-author, John Wise, detail how they used options, such as pattern analysis and financial indices, to uncover the clues that ultimately led to Ames's exposure.
- Despite his questionable wealth and extravagant assets like a new house and a Jaguar, Ames remained undetected for years due to technology that was not advanced enough to track these financial transactions and purchases accurately.
- As a sports enthusiast, Ames would often use sporting events as covers for his secret meetings with Soviet agents, effectively using the camouflage provided by public events to disguise his treacherous activities.
