U.S. issues $200,000 reward for arrest of ex-intelligence officer Monica Witt

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 intelligence specialist and counterintelligence officer accused of defecting to Iran and allegedly sharing highly classified U.S. national defence information.

The announcement was made on Thursday, May 14, 2026, as authorities renewed efforts to locate her after more than a decade of being out of U.S. custody.

Witt served in the U.S. Air Force from 1997 to 2008, working as a counterintelligence specialist, and later continued as a government contractor until 2010, according to U.S. officials. She reportedly had access to highly sensitive and classified defence systems during her service, including information linked to undercover personnel.

Authorities allege that Witt travelled to Iran in 2012 for a conference and returned again in 2013, when she ultimately defected. U.S. prosecutors claim she later provided classified defence-related information to Iranian authorities, including data that allegedly exposed U.S. intelligence operations and endangered national security personnel.

Investigators further allege that the information she disclosed may have benefited Iranian intelligence structures, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), strengthening their intelligence capabilities. Officials say her actions represented a serious breach of trust and a direct threat to U.S. national security interests.

The FBI stated that the case remains active and that the agency is still pursuing all possible leads regarding her whereabouts.

A senior official from the FBI’s Washington Field Office said the bureau “has not forgotten the case” and believes individuals may still hold information that could assist in locating her. Authorities have urged the public to come forward with credible tips that may help in her arrest.

Officials also allege that after defecting to Iran, Witt received logistical and operational support, including housing and equipment, which enabled continued access to sensitive material and communication channels.

In 2019, U.S. prosecutors formally charged Witt in a federal indictment alongside several Iranian nationals accused of assisting her in intelligence-related activities targeting former U.S. government personnel. The indictment included allegations of conspiracy and identity-related offences connected to the handling of classified information.

Witt remains on the FBI’s Most Wanted list, with officials stating that the latest reward announcement is part of renewed efforts to generate public leads and advance the long-standing investigation.

The FBI has described the case as part of a broader pattern of espionage-related threats involving alleged cooperation between U.S. nationals and foreign intelligence networks.

Authorities say the investigation is ongoing, and the reward is intended to accelerate efforts to locate Witt and bring her to justice in the United States.