The FBI is ramping up its hunt for accused traitor and former U.S. Air Force counterintelligence specialist Monica Witt, announcing a massive $200,000 reward for information leading to her arrest and prosecution after years on the run in Iran.
Witt, a former Air Force special agent trained in Farsi and entrusted with highly sensitive national security information, was indicted in 2019 on espionage charges after allegedly defecting to Iran and handing classified intelligence to the hostile Islamic regime.
According to federal authorities, Witt served in the Air Force from 1997 to 2008 and later worked as a Defense Department contractor with access to secret and top-secret intelligence programs, including the identities of undercover American intelligence personnel.
The FBI now believes she may still be actively assisting Iranian intelligence operations.
In a statement this week, FBI Washington Field Office Counterintelligence and Cyber Division chief Daniel Wierzbicki blasted Witt for allegedly turning against her own country.
“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, adding that the FBI believes she “likely continues to support their nefarious activities.”
Federal investigators say Witt attended anti-American conferences in Iran before ultimately defecting in 2013. Prosecutors allege she helped Iranian operatives identify and target her former U.S. intelligence colleagues and exposed a highly classified American intelligence program.
Read the press release below:
The FBI Washington Field Office today announced that the FBI is offering a $200,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension and prosecution of Monica Witt, a former U.S. service member and counterintelligence agent who was indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia in February 2019 on charges of espionage, including transmitting national defense information to the government of Iran.
Witt, a former active-duty U.S. Air Force intelligence specialist and special agent for the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, served in the military between 1997 and 2008 before working as a U.S. government contractor until 2010. Her military service and contracting employment provided her access to SECRET and TOP SECRET information relating to foreign intelligence and counterintelligence, including the true names of U.S. Intelligence Community undercover personnel.
In 2013, Witt defected to Iran. According to the indictment, she subsequently provided information to the government of Iran, placing at risk sensitive and classified U.S. national defense information and programs. Witt allegedly intentionally provided information endangering U.S personnel and their families stationed abroad. She also allegedly conducted research on behalf of the Iranian regime to allow them to target her former colleagues in the U.S. government.
Witt’s defection to Iran has benefitted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which has elements responsible for intelligence collection, unconventional warfare, and providing direct support to multiple terrorist organizations targeting U.S. citizens and interests.
While Witt has been indicted for her alleged crimes, she remains at large. The FBI continues to actively work to locate Witt and bring her to justice.
“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 and likely continues to support their nefarious activities,” said Daniel Wierzbicki, special agent in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Counterintelligence and Cyber Division. “The FBI has not forgotten and believes that during this critical moment in Iran’s history, there is someone who knows something about her whereabouts. The FBI wants to hear from you so you can help us apprehend Witt and bring her to justice.”
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