Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, May 15: The Federal Bureau of Investigation has announced a reward of $200,000 for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of former US military employee Monica Witt, who is accused of spying for Iran.
Witt, 47, was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2019 on espionage-related charges, including allegedly transmitting sensitive US national defence information to the Iranian government.
According to the FBI, Witt served in the United States Air Force from 1997 to 2008 as an intelligence technical sergeant and later worked as a defence contractor for the US government until 2010.
Officials said her military and contractor roles gave her access to classified information related to foreign intelligence and counterintelligence operations, including the identities of undercover US intelligence personnel.
The FBI alleged that Witt defected to Iran in 2013.
“Monica Witt allegedly betrayed her oath to the Constitution more than a decade ago by defecting to Iran and providing the Iranian regime National Defense Information and likely continues to support their nefarious activities,” FBI Washington Field Office Counterintelligence and Cyber Division Special Agent Daniel 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.
According to the indictment filed in the District of Columbia, Witt allegedly shared sensitive information with the Iranian government that endangered US national security programmes and intelligence operations.
The FBI claimed that her actions may have put American personnel and their families stationed abroad at risk.
“Witt allegedly intentionally provided information endangering U.S personnel and their families stationed abroad,” the FBI said.
Investigators also alleged that she conducted research on behalf of the Iranian regime to help target her former colleagues in the US government.
The FBI further stated that her alleged activities benefited the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is accused by the US of involvement in intelligence gathering, unconventional warfare and support for militant organisations targeting Americans.
According to the FBI description, Witt is a white woman with brown hair and brown eyes, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing around 120 pounds.
Authorities said she is also known by the aliases Fatemah Zahra and Narges Witt.
The FBI has urged anyone with information regarding Witt’s whereabouts to contact local FBI offices, American embassies or consulates, or submit information through the agency’s official tip portal.