The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has offered a $200,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and capture of Monica Witt, a former U.S. Air Force specialist wanted on charges of espionage. Witt, who allegedly defected to Iran several years ago, is accused of providing highly classified national defense information to the Iranian government.

By JKN Global News Desk

Federal authorities have intensified their search for Monica Witt, a former United States Air Force intelligence specialist, by offering a substantial financial incentive for her capture. The FBI announced that it will pay up to $200,000 for information that results in the arrest of Witt, who remains at large and is believed to be residing in Iran. The move underscores the severity of the charges against her and the ongoing effort by U.S. intelligence agencies to hold defectors accountable for compromising national security.

Witt served as an Air Force counterintelligence officer before her reported defection. According to federal prosecutors, she leveraged her high-level security clearance to gain access to sensitive materials, which she then allegedly shared with Iranian officials. The indictment against her suggests that she provided details regarding classified U.S. military operations and identified fellow intelligence officers, potentially placing their lives and various clandestine missions at risk.

The investigation into Witt’s activities revealed that she traveled to Iran in 2013 to participate in a conference organized by the New Horizon Organization, an entity known to support the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Shortly thereafter, she disappeared from public view and was later identified as having defected to the Islamic Republic. Since her arrival in Iran, she has reportedly been provided with housing and equipment by the Iranian government to facilitate her alleged cyber-espionage activities against her former colleagues in the U.S. military.

Federal officials have classified Witt as a significant threat to national security, noting that her deep understanding of U.S. intelligence protocols makes her a valuable asset to foreign adversaries. The FBI’s decision to issue a significant reward highlights the difficulty of apprehending suspects currently protected by hostile foreign governments. Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding her movements or contacts to come forward, emphasizing that the reward applies to any information that directly leads to her being taken into U.S. custody.