The FBI has announced a substantial reward of $200,000 for any information that could lead to the capture and successful prosecution of Monica Witt. This former U.S. service member and counterintelligence agent was indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia back in February 2019. The charges against her are serious, involving the transmission of national defense secrets to the Iranian government, an act considered espionage.
Monica Witt’s career with the Air Force spans over a decade, during which she served as an intelligence specialist and a special agent for the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Her tenure in the military lasted from 1997 to 2008. Following her active duty, Witt continued to work closely with government secrets as a contractor until 2010, as detailed in a statement from the FBI Washington Field Office.
Throughout her time in service and as a contractor, Witt was entrusted with sensitive information, including secret and top-secret material related to foreign intelligence and counterintelligence operations. This access also included the identities of undercover personnel within the U.S. Intelligence Community, information that is highly classified and critical to national security.
According to the indictment, in a betrayal of her country, Witt allegedly defected to Iran in 2013. It is claimed that she handed over vital information to the Iranian government, thereby jeopardizing U.S. national defense information and intelligence programs.
The FBI is actively seeking any assistance from the public to locate Witt, offering a significant reward for leads that could help bring her to justice.
She allegedly intentionally provided information endangering U.S. personnel and their families stationed abroad, and conducted research on behalf of the Iranian regime to allow them to target her former colleagues in the U.S. government.
The FBI said 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.
Monica Witt is wanted by the FBI in relation to espionage charges. (FBI)
While Witt has been indicted for her alleged crimes, she remains at large. She is known to speak Farsi and reside in Iran, and may be using aliases, including Fatemah Zahra or Narges Witt.
The FBI said it is continuing to actively work to find 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.
Monica Witt is believed to be living in Iran, according to FBI officials. (FBI)
“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,” Wierzbicki continued. “The FBI wants to hear from you so you can help us apprehend Witt and bring her to justice.”
Anyone with information about Witt is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. Tips can also be shared with local FBI offices, the nearest American embassy or consulate, or submitted via tips.fbi.gov.