A former senior CIA official with top-secret clearance has been charged with stealing hundreds of gold bars valued at over $40 million from the federal government and concealing them at his residence. David Rush was arrested and charged with criminal theft of public money last week, according to federal court filings in Virginia, where he resides.
Details of the Theft
From November to March, Rush requested and received a substantial amount of foreign currency and tens of millions of dollars in gold bars for work-related expenses, as stated in an affidavit from an FBI agent investigating the case. The affidavit notes that it is unclear what Rush intended to use the funds for, but a portion was found in a storage space near his office.
Seizure of Assets
Federal officials searched his home on May 18 and seized more than 300 gold bars with an estimated value exceeding $40 million. They also confiscated roughly $2 million in U.S. currency and 35 luxury watches, many of them Rolexes. Rush was arrested the following day.
Legal Proceedings
The FBI affidavit concludes there is probable cause to believe that Rush knowingly embezzled, stole, or converted a thing of value belonging to the United States for his personal use. The FBI is working with the CIA and the Department of Justice in the investigation. Rush's lawyer declined to comment on Wednesday.
Background and Misrepresentation
It remains unclear what role Rush held at the CIA or when he left the agency. Court filings describe him as a former senior executive service-level employee at a U.S. government agency. The FBI affidavit also reveals that Rush appears to have lied for years about his education and military background. He falsely claimed to be a Navy pilot and to have graduated from Clemson University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In reality, he enlisted in the Navy in 1997 and served in the Navy Reserves from 2004 until 2015, when he was honorably discharged as a lieutenant. He did not attend either college or undergo pilot evaluations.
Rush is being held in custody pending a hearing on Friday in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia.
