Former CIA officer pleads guilty to $200 million wire fraud scheme
David Rush admitted to a $200 million fraud involving fake contracts, real estate purchases and the illicit acquisition of gold bars, and faces restitution and forfeiture under a plea deal.
A former CIA senior executive has pleaded guilty to wire fraud in a scheme prosecutors say involved $200 million in fabricated contracts and the misuse of government funds to buy luxury assets. David Rush, 49, agreed to forfeit real estate, vehicles, watches and cash, and to pay restitution after a raid uncovered 298 gold bars that he claimed were "work-related expenses."
Court filings reveal that Rush disclosed details of a "clandestine human source" to a foreign official, a breach that prosecutors said could endanger the source and compromise U.S. intelligence operations. The filings also allege that Rush fabricated a classified program to justify acquiring South Florida property, which he intended to resell for profit, and that he acted as his own approving official, bypassing oversight of government spending.
Federal investigators say Rush repeatedly requested foreign currency and gold between November 2025 and March 2026, and initiated a $45 million wire transfer in January 2026 that formed part of the charge. The plea agreement requires him to surrender the gold, two BMWs, watches, cash and nearly $39 million seized from his bank account. A judge will determine his sentence later, with the wire-fraud charge carrying a maximum of 20 years imprisonment.
The CIA director described Rush’s conduct as an abuse of position and a betrayal of public trust, while a magistrate judge noted his unique ability to evade detection, leading to his continued detention pending trial.