WASHINGTON – The FBI is offering a $200,000 reward for information leading to the capture and prosecution of Monica Elfriede Witt, a former U.S. Air Force counterintelligence specialist who defected to Iran in 2013.
Witt, 47, is wanted in connection with charges of espionage and the transmission of classified national defense information to the government of Tehran.
The renewed push for information comes as the United States and Iran have been at war since Feb. 28, sharpening concerns inside the U.S. national security establishment about unresolved counterintelligence breaches at a time of open conflict.
Military Service and Intelligence Background
Witt’s career in U.S. intelligence began with a decade of service in the Air Force, during which she was trained in the Farsi language. Her role involved classified counterintelligence missions, specifically those deployed to the Middle East.
Following her military service, Witt transitioned into the private sector as a contractor for the Department of Defense, maintaining access to sensitive programs and the networks of former colleagues.
Key details of her professional background include:
- Service Period: 1997-2008
- Specialization: Counterintelligence operations and Farsi language proficiency
- Operational Area: Classified overseas deployments focused on the Middle East
- Post-Military Role: Defense Department contractor supporting intelligence and security work
Current and former officials say that combination of language skills, operational experience and access to classified material made Witt a high-value target for a foreign intelligence service – and, if the allegations are proven, a uniquely damaging defector.
The 2013 Defection
A native of Texas, Witt defected to Iran in 2013. According to the Justice Department, the defection occurred after Witt was invited to attend two all-expense-paid conferences within the country.
Federal prosecutors stated that these conferences were used to promote anti-Western propaganda and condemn American moral standards, providing Iranian officials an opportunity to assess and cultivate Witt over time.
Prior to her departure, the FBI had warned Witt regarding her activities. At the time, Witt informed agents that she would not provide sensitive information related to her work if she returned to Iran.
Her subsequent disappearance, and later appearance in Iranian media, triggered a broader internal review of how the U.S. government manages so-called “insider threat” risks among personnel with high-level security clearances.
Espionage Charges and Federal Indictment
In February 2019, a federal grand jury indicted Witt on charges of espionage. The indictment alleges that she transmitted national defense information to the Iranian government, placing sensitive U.S. programs at risk.
The case was brought under the Espionage Act, the primary U.S. statute governing the protection of national defense information, underscoring the severity with which prosecutors view the alleged disclosures.
The FBI alleges that Witt’s actions went beyond the transmission of documents to include active targeting of U.S. personnel.
According to the news release, Witt allegedly:
- Provided information that endangered U.S. personnel and their families stationed abroad
- Conducted research for the Iranian regime to help target her former colleagues within the U.S. government
- Betrayed her oath to the Constitution by providing national defense information to a foreign power
The FBI has renewed its reward offer through its long-running “Most Wanted” and rewards program, a tool routinely used in major counterintelligence and terrorism investigations to solicit tips from the public.
Daniel Wierzbicki, special agent in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Counterintelligence and Cyber Division, stated that Witt “likely continues to support their nefarious activities.”
“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.”
Witt remains at large.