FBI offers $200,000 reward to former Air Force spy accused of spying for Iran
The FBI is offering a $200,000 reward for information about a former Air Force spy who is accused of spying for Iran.
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The FBI is offering a $200,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of a former U.S. military government official accused of spying for Iran.
Monica Witt, a former defense contractor and U.S. Air Force information technology sergeant, was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2019 on charges of espionage, including transmitting national defense information to the governments of countries in the Middle East.
Witt, 47, served in the U.S. military from 1997 to 2008 and then worked as a contractor for the U.S. government until 2010. Her military service and contract employment gave her access to highly classified information about foreign intelligence and counterintelligence operations, including the identity of undercover U.S. intelligence agents.
She defected to Iran in 2013, according to the FBI.
“Monica Witt betrayed her oath to the Constitution by defecting to Iran more than a decade ago, allegedly providing defense intelligence to the Iranian regime, and likely continuing to support their heinous activities,” Daniel Wierzbicki, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s Counterintelligence and Cyber Division, said in a news release. “The FBI is aware and believes that there is someone who knows something about her whereabouts at this critical time in Iran’s history.”
“Puts U.S. military personnel and their families overseas at risk.”
Witt then provided information to the Iranian government, endangering sensitive U.S. national defense information and programs, according to an indictment filed in the District of Columbia.
“Mr. Witt is suspected of knowingly providing information that endangered U.S. service members and their families overseas,” the FBI said in a statement. “She also allegedly conducted research on behalf of the Iranian regime that enabled her to target former colleagues in the U.S. government.”
The FBI said Witt’s actions benefited the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is responsible for intelligence gathering, irregular warfare and support for terrorist organizations that target Americans.
Description of Monica Witt
The FBI said Witt was a white female with brown hair and brown eyes, 5 feet 10 inches tall and 120 pounds.
Her other names include Fatemah Zahra and Narges Witt.
Anyone with information on Witt’s whereabouts is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Tipsters can also contact their local FBI office or the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, or visit tips.fbi.gov.
Natalie Neisa Alland covers trending news for USA TODAY. Contact her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter. @nataliealund.
