FBI offers $200,000 for info on Monica Witt, ex-Air Force officer accused of exposing undercover US agents to Iran

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced a reward of up to $200,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Monica Elfriede Witt, a former US counterintelligence agent accused of defecting to Iran and sharing classified national defense information with the Iranian government.

The FBI Washington Field Office made the announcement on May 14, saying Witt remains at large years after she was indicted on espionage-related charges in 2019.

What is Monica Witt accused of?

According to federal authorities, Witt served as an active-duty US Air Force intelligence specialist and later worked as a special agent for the Air Force Office of Special Investigations between 1997 and 2008. She later worked as a U.S. government contractor until 2010.

Officials said her positions gave her access to highly sensitive SECRET and TOP SECRET intelligence information, including the identities of undercover US intelligence personnel.

Federal investigators allege that Witt defected to Iran in 2013 and later provided classified information to the Iranian government.

According to the indictment, she allegedly shared information that placed “risk sensitive and classified US national defense information and programs” and endangered U.S. personnel and their families stationed overseas.

Authorities also accused Witt of helping Iranian intelligence officials target former US colleagues by conducting online research and gathering information on their behalf.

FBI says Witt’s actions benefited Iran’s Revolutionary Guard

The FBI said Witt’s alleged activities benefited the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The agency described the IRGC as an organization involved in intelligence collection, unconventional warfare, and support for groups accused of targeting US citizens and interests abroad.

“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,” he added.

Witt was indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia on February 8, 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.”

The FBI’s Most Wanted listing states that Witt is also known by the aliases “Fatemah Zahra” and “Narges Witt.” Investigators say she speaks Farsi and is believed to reside in Iran.

Who is Monica Elfriede Witt?

Monica Elfriede Witt is a former US Air Force intelligence specialist and counterintelligence agent who is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on espionage-related charges linked to Iran.

Witt, who was born on April 8, 1979, in El Paso, Texas, served in the U.S. military before later allegedly defecting to Iran. Federal authorities accuse her of providing classified national defense information to the Iranian government after leaving American intelligence service roles.