FBI Offers $200,000 Reward For Former Air Force Intel Specialist Accused Of Spying For Iran
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is offering a $200,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Monica Witt, a former U.S. Air Force counterintelligence specialist accused of defecting to Iran and handing over sensitive American secrets to the Islamic regime.
Witt was indicted by a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. in 2019 on multiple espionage-related charges, including the unlawful transmission of classified national defense information to the Iranian government.
According to federal investigators, Witt served in the U.S. military from 1997 through 2008 before later working as a government contractor. During that time, authorities say she gained access to highly sensitive classified material at both the SECRET and TOP SECRET levels, including information tied to undercover members of the American intelligence community.
The FBI alleges Witt defected to Iran in 2013 after attending multiple conferences in the country that were reportedly organized around anti-Western and anti-American messaging. Federal officials say the events promoted Iranian propaganda while criticizing American values and institutions.
Investigators accuse Witt of intentionally assisting the Iranian government after her defection by providing classified intelligence that endangered U.S. personnel and compromised national security operations abroad.
Authorities further allege that Witt actively helped Iranian intelligence agencies identify and target her former colleagues inside the U.S. intelligence and defense communities.
In a statement announcing the reward, the FBI said Witt’s actions directly benefited the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, commonly known as the IRGC, which the United States has repeatedly linked to terrorism, covert operations, and attacks against American interests overseas.
“Witt’s defection to Iran has benefitted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” the FBI stated, noting the organization’s role in intelligence gathering, unconventional warfare operations, and support for terrorist groups hostile to the United States.
Despite the indictment remaining active for years, Witt has still not been located. Federal officials believe she may continue assisting the Iranian regime while evading capture.
Daniel Wierzbicki said the bureau has not forgotten Witt’s alleged betrayal and is continuing to pursue all available leads.
“Monica Witt allegedly betrayed her oath to the Constitution more than a decade ago by defecting to Iran and providing the Iranian regime National Defense Information,” Wierzbicki said. “The FBI has not forgotten.”
The bureau is urging anyone with information regarding Witt’s whereabouts or activities to contact investigators as the United States continues ramping up pressure on Iran amid growing tensions between Washington and Tehran.