Full Breakdown
Former Air Force Counterintelligence Officer Monica Witt Remains at Large; FBI Offers $200,000 Reward
5/15/2026, 4:24:35 AM
FBI Reward Offer
The FBI announced a $200,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of Monica Witt, a former Air Force special agent and counterintelligence specialist charged in February 2019 with espionage for providing classified U.S. intelligence to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The agency says Witt defected to Iran in 2013 and may still be aiding Tehran.
Background
Witt entered the Air Force in 1997, served until 2008, and later worked as a defense contractor. From 2003 to 2008 she performed counterintelligence duties in the Middle East. In 2012 she attended a conference in Iran, returned in 2013 and was given housing and computer equipment by Iranian officials. Prosecutors allege she disclosed a classified defense program and the identity of a U.S. intelligence officer, endangering that individual’s life.
Key Figures
Monica Witt, former Air Force Office of Special Investigations counterintelligence officer; Daniel Wierzbicki, FBI Special Agent leading the Counterintelligence and Cyber Division; John Demers, Assistant Attorney General who detailed Witt’s alleged disclosures; the IRGC, Iran’s elite force alleged to have recruited Witt; and four Iranian co-defendants indicted with her.
Timeline
Key dates: 1997 – joins Air Force; 2003-2008 – Middle-East counterintelligence; 2008 – leaves service; 2012 – Iran conference; 2013 – defects; Feb 2019 – indictment; 2024 – FBI reward.
Data
Reward: $200,000; Witt served from 1997 to 2008; co-defendants: four; charges: espionage, conspiracy, identity theft, computer intrusion.
Official Statements & Gaps
The FBI stressed that “the agency has not forgotten” Witt’s case and urged the public to provide leads. A spokesperson confirmed the reward remains open. No attorney for Witt is known, and verification of Iranian housing and equipment is lacking.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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,” — Daniel Wierzbicki, FBI Special Agent
- “The FBI wants to hear from you so you can help us apprehend Witt and bring her to justice.” — FBI
What’s Next
The FBI continues to solicit tips through its tip line, keeping the $200,000 reward active. The investigation remains open as officials seek Witt’s location.
