Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(137,528 posts)
Fri May 15, 2026, 04:11 PM Friday

FBI offers $200,000 reward to catch ex-Air Force specialist wanted on espionage charges in Iran

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI is offering a $200,000 reward for information leading to capture and prosecution of a former U.S. Air Force counterintelligence specialist who defected to Iran in 2013 and was later charged with revealing classified information to the Tehran government.

Monica Elfriede Witt, 47, was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2019 on charges of espionage, including transmitting national defense information to the government of Iran. She remains at large.

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,” Daniel Wierzbicki, special agent in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Counterintelligence and Cyber Division, said in a news release Wednesday.

“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.”

https://apnews.com/article/monica-witt-iran-fbi-counterintelligence-defector-1e11b09b9cb7d8a0d568019d8adf7942

2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
FBI offers $200,000 reward to catch ex-Air Force specialist wanted on espionage charges in Iran (Original Post) Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Friday OP
A very strange case... hlthe2b Friday #1
She's probably in Iran. haele Friday #2

hlthe2b

(114,720 posts)
1. A very strange case...
Fri May 15, 2026, 04:15 PM
Friday

She had no familial roots to Iran afaik. Just "turned" based on her work in ME.

haele

(15,605 posts)
2. She's probably in Iran.
Fri May 15, 2026, 04:20 PM
Friday

Or Lebanon. Or Yemen. Or maybe anywhere else in the world.
Because chances are, she's not returned to the USA.
It's the NSA and CIA that would be looking for her, anyway.

Kick in to the DU tip jar?

This week we're running a special pop-up mini fund drive. From Monday through Friday we're going ad-free for all registered members, and we're asking you to kick in to the DU tip jar to support the site and keep us financially healthy.

As a bonus, making a contribution will allow you to leave kudos for another DU member, and at the end of the week we'll recognize the DUers who you think make this community great.

Tell me more...

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»FBI offers $200,000 rewar...