FBI Offers $200,000 Reward for Former Air Force Operative Who Defected to Iran
The FBI has announced a $200,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Monica Witt, a former U.S. Air Force counterintelligence specialist who defected to Iran in 2013. Indicted in 2019 for espionage, Witt is accused of providing classified defense documents and identifying U.S. intelligence officers to Iranian officials, thereby endangering American personnel. Authorities believe she remains in Iran, continuing to support illicit activities and targeting former colleagues. This announcement underscores ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions and the serious national security threat posed by her alleged betrayal of sensitive intelligence operations.
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FBI Offers $200K Reward for Former Air Force Intel Agent Accused of Defecting to Iran
The FBI has announced a $200,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Monica Witt, a former U.S. Air Force intelligence specialist and special agent accused of espionage. Witt, who served from 1997 to 2008, had access to highly classified information through a Special Access Program, including identities of U.S. agents and counterintelligence operations. Indicted in 2018, she is alleged to have defected to Iran and provided secrets to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The indictment details her radicalization during graduate studies, where she expressed anti-U.S. views, and her subsequent travel to Tehran in 2012. There, she allegedly established credibility with Iranian intelligence and publicly converted to Islam. Witt reportedly worked with Marzieh Hashemi, a naturalized Iranian citizen and broadcaster, to facilitate her defection and produce anti-Western propaganda. After leaving the military, Witt worked as a government contractor before disappearing into Iran's intelligence network. The case highlights significant counterintelligence failures and the ongoing threat posed by insider threats within U.S. defense sectors.
New York PostFBI Offers $200,000 Reward for Former Air Force Specialist Defected to Iran
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced a $200,000 reward for information leading to the capture and prosecution of Monica Elfriede Witt, a former U.S. Air Force counterintelligence specialist. Witt defected to Iran in 2013 and was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2019 on serious espionage charges. The indictment alleges that she transmitted national defense information to the government of Iran, thereby revealing classified secrets to the Tehran regime. Now 47 years old, Witt remains at large, and the substantial financial incentive underscores the severity of the breach and the U.S. government's determination to hold her accountable. This case highlights ongoing concerns regarding insider threats and the security of sensitive military intelligence. The reward aims to encourage individuals with knowledge of Witt's whereabouts or activities to come forward, facilitating her return to the United States to face justice for actions deemed detrimental to national security.
France 24 - International breaking news, top stories and headlinesFBI Offers $200,000 Reward for Former Air Force Specialist Defected to Iran
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced a $200,000 reward for information leading to the capture and prosecution of Monica Witt, a former U.S. Air Force counterintelligence specialist who defected to Iran in 2013. Witt, who served in the military from 1997 to 2008 and later worked as a government contractor, was indicted in 2019 on espionage charges for transmitting classified national defense information to the Iranian regime. The FBI states that her actions endangered American personnel and their families stationed abroad and aided Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in targeting former U.S. government colleagues. Despite defecting over a decade ago, authorities believe individuals may still know her whereabouts amidst current heightened tensions. The announcement comes as the United States and Iran are reportedly in a state of war since late February, with recent Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The FBI emphasizes that it has not forgotten the case and urges anyone with information to come forward to help bring Witt to justice for betraying her oath to the Constitution.
ZeroHedge NewsFBI Offers $200,000 Reward for Former Air Force Specialist Accused of Spying for Iran
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced a $200,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of Monica Elfriede Witt, a former US Air Force counterintelligence specialist. Witt is wanted on espionage charges for allegedly defecting to Iran in 2013 and providing classified national defense information to the Iranian government. Indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2019, she remains at large. Authorities state that Witt, who served in the Air Force from 1997 to 2008 and was trained in Farsi, betrayed her oath by sharing sensitive data that endangered US personnel and their families abroad. She reportedly attended pro-Iran conferences and ignored FBI warnings before defecting. The FBI believes she continues to assist Tehran, including conducting research to target her former US government colleagues. Daniel Wierzbicki, special agent in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Counterintelligence and Cyber Division, emphasized that the bureau has not forgotten her betrayal and urges anyone with knowledge of her whereabouts to come forward during this critical period in Iran's history.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish WorldFBI Offers $200,000 Reward for Ex-Air Force Specialist Accused of Spying for Iran
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced a $200,000 reward for information leading to the capture and prosecution of Monica Elfriede Witt, a former US Air Force counterintelligence specialist. Witt, a 47-year-old Texas native, defected to Iran in 2013 after attending all-expense-paid conferences in the country. She was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2019 on charges of espionage, specifically for transmitting national defense information to the Iranian government. According to the indictment, Witt betrayed her oath by providing sensitive data that endangered US personnel and their families abroad. She also allegedly conducted research to help the Iranian regime target her former colleagues in the US government. Witt served in the Air Force from 1997 to 2008, where she was trained in Farsi and deployed on classified missions in the Middle East. Despite prior warnings from the FBI about her activities, she proceeded with her defection. The FBI emphasizes that it has not forgotten the case and believes individuals may know her current whereabouts during this critical period in Iran's history. Witt remains at large.
NDTV News Search Records Found 1000FBI Offers $200,000 Reward for Capture of Former US Air Force Agent Defected to Iran
The FBI has announced a $200,000 reward for information leading to the capture of Monica Elfriede Witt, a former United States Air Force counterintelligence specialist who defected to Iran in 2013. Witt, who served for eleven years and learned Farsi for missions in the Middle East, is accused of espionage and providing sensitive national defense information to the Iranian regime. She was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2019 for betraying her oath to the Constitution and endangering US personnel abroad. According to prosecutors, Witt accepted an all-expenses-paid invitation to conferences in Iran that promoted anti-Western propaganda, despite prior FBI warnings. The renewed attention to her case comes amidst heightened tensions between the US and Iran, including recent coordinated attacks. FBI officials state that Witt likely continues to support Iranian activities and may possess critical intelligence. The agency emphasizes that it has not forgotten her betrayal and seeks to bring her to trial for compromising US security and conducting research to aid attacks against former colleagues in the US government.
Clarin.com - Home - Lo últimoFBI Offers $200K Reward for Ex-Air Force Specialist Who Defected to Iran
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced a $200,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Monica Witt, a former United States Air Force counterintelligence specialist. Witt is accused of spying for Iran and defected to the country approximately ten years ago. She was formally indicted in February 2019 by a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., on charges related to espionage. The indictment stems from her alleged activities while serving in the U.S. military and her subsequent actions after leaving the country. This development highlights ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran regarding intelligence operations and national security threats. The reward underscores the seriousness with which U.S. authorities view Witt's alleged betrayal and their continued efforts to bring her to justice. As a former insider with access to sensitive counterintelligence methods, her case represents a significant breach of trust and potential damage to U.S. national security interests. The FBI continues to seek public assistance in locating her.
Just In NewsFBI Offers $200,000 Reward for Former Air Force Operative Who Defected to Iran
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced a $200,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Monica Witt, a former U.S. Air Force counterintelligence operative who allegedly defected to Iran in 2013. Authorities believe Witt remains involved in supporting Iran's illicit activities and poses a significant national security threat. Daniel Wierzbicki, the FBI’s top counterintelligence official in Washington, emphasized that the agency has not forgotten the case and is seeking public assistance to locate Witt. Prosecutors allege that between 2012 and 2015, Witt conspired with Iranian officials to provide classified U.S. defense documents, exposing a highly classified intelligence collection program and identifying a U.S. intelligence officer, thereby endangering their life. Following her defection, Iranian officials reportedly provided Witt with housing and computer equipment to support her operations. Witt served in the Middle East from 2003 to 2008 with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. The FBI urges anyone with knowledge of her whereabouts to come forward to help bring her to justice.
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