3 days ago
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The FBI is offering a $200,000 reward for accusation starring to the apprehension of erstwhile U.S. Air Force peculiar cause and counterintelligence specialist Monica Witt, who was charged successful 2019 with espionage successful transportation with accusations she shared highly classified U.S. quality with Iran.
The FBI said successful a statement Thursday that it's inactive trying to find Witt, who they accidental defected to Iran successful 2013.
"The FBI has not forgotten and believes that during this captious infinitesimal successful Iran's history, determination is idiosyncratic who knows thing astir her whereabouts," said Daniel Wierzbicki, peculiar cause successful complaint of the FBI Washington Field Office's Counterintelligence and Cyber Division. "The FBI wants to perceive from you truthful you tin assistance america apprehend Witt and bring her to justice."
The U.S. authorities accused Monica Witt of revealing highly classified accusation to Tehran.
FBI
In February 2019, prosecutors alleged that Witt shared accusation astir a classified Defense Department programme with the Iranian authorities and assisted Tehran's quality services successful targeting her erstwhile colleagues successful the U.S. government. Authorities said Witt worked with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the elite subject unit tasked with expanding Tehran's power globally.
Witt entered the Air Force successful 1997 and near successful 2008, according to the Justice Department. She was besides a Defense Department contractor until 2010.
Prosecutors said Witt traveled to Iran successful 2012 to be a league that criticized "American motivation standards" and promoted anti-U.S. propaganda. She returned the pursuing twelvemonth and was fixed lodging and machine instrumentality by Iranian officials. Authorities allege she aboriginal began moving connected behalf of Tehran by sharing classified accusation and gathering quality connected erstwhile U.S. quality colleagues.
The aforesaid 2019 indictment charged 4 Iranians for conspiracy and aggravated individuality theft, accusing them of helping Witt stitchery accusation connected her erstwhile U.S. authorities colleagues.
Camilo Montoya-Galvez contributed to this report.
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