FBI announces $200,000 reward for info on ex-US intelligence officer accused of spying for Iran

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced a reward of $200,000 for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of former US intelligence specialist Monica Witt, who is allegedly accused of spying for Iran.

The FBI’s Washington Field Office said the reward was announced on May 14 as part of ongoing efforts to locate Witt, who was indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia in February 2019 on espionage-related charges, including allegedly transmitting classified national defence information to the Iranian government.

Witt served as an active-duty intelligence specialist with the United States Air Force and later worked as a special agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations between 1997 and 2008. She subsequently worked as a US government contractor until 2010.

According to investigators, her military and government service provided her access to classified 'Secret’ and 'Top Secret' information, including the identities of undercover personnel within the US intelligence community.

The FBI alleged that Witt defected to Iran in 2013 and later provided sensitive information to the Iranian government, jeopardising classified US national defence programmes and intelligence operations.

Investigators also alleged that Witt intentionally disclosed information that endangered US personnel and their families stationed abroad.

According to the indictment, she additionally conducted online research on behalf of the Iranian regime to help identify and target former colleagues working for the US government.

Officials said Witt’s alleged actions benefitted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which the US accuses of involvement in intelligence operations, unconventional warfare and support for militant organisations targeting American interests.

Despite being indicted in 2019, Witt remains at large and is believed to still be outside the United States.

Daniel Wierzbicki, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Counterintelligence and Cyber Division, said the agency had not abandoned efforts to locate her.

“Monica Witt allegedly betrayed her oath to the Constitution more than a decade ago by defecting to Iran and providing the Iranian regime national defence information,” Wierzbicki 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,” he added.