The FBI is offering a reward of up to $200,000 for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of former U.S. counterintelligence agent Monica Elfriede Witt, a one-time Air Force intelligence specialist accused of defecting to Iran and providing classified information to the Iranian government.
The FBI Washington Field Office announced the renewed reward offer on Thursday, saying Witt remains at large after being charged in a 2019 federal espionage case.
Witt, 47, served in the U.S. Air Force from 1997 to 2008 and later worked as a government contractor until 2010. During her military and contracting service, authorities said she had access to SECRET and TOP SECRET intelligence, including the identities of undercover U.S. intelligence personnel.
Federal prosecutors allege Witt defected to Iran in 2013 and later transmitted sensitive national defense information to the Iranian government. According to the FBI, the information allegedly endangered U.S. personnel and their families stationed overseas.
“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,” Daniel Wierzbicki, special agent in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Counterintelligence and Cyber Division, said in a statement.
“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 added. “The FBI wants to hear from you so you can help us apprehend Witt and bring her to justice.”
A federal grand jury in Washington indicted Witt in February 2019 on charges including conspiracy to deliver national defense information to representatives of a foreign government and delivering national defense information to representatives of a foreign government, specifically Iran.
Authorities said Witt allegedly conducted research on behalf of the Iranian regime to help identify and target former U.S. intelligence colleagues.
The FBI said Witt’s actions allegedly benefited Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which U.S. authorities say supports terrorist organizations and conducts intelligence and military operations targeting American interests.
Witt is also known by the aliases Fatemah Zahra and Narges Witt, according to the FBI. Investigators said she speaks Farsi and is believed to reside in Iran.
The FBI described Witt as an international flight risk and urged anyone with information about her whereabouts to contact federal authorities at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit tips through the bureau’s website.
