Former CIA Officer Accused of Stealing Millions in Gold Bars
David Rush, a former CIA officer, has been charged with stealing approximately $40 million in gold bars and foreign currency from the agency over a span of years.
A former CIA officer in Virginia has been charged with theft involving tens of millions of dollars in gold bars and foreign currency. David Rush was arrested last week on a single charge of theft of public money and remains in custody pending a detention hearing.
The FBI's investigation alleges that Rush fraudulently claimed military service and advanced education credentials, securing a government position that granted him top-secret clearance. Documents reveal he falsely indicated he had served as a Navy pilot and possessed higher degrees. Despite these claims being easily verified as false, the CIA reportedly failed to detect them before his hiring and promotions over 17 years.
In addition to his misleading claims, the FBI affidavit states that Rush improperly reported 744 hours of military leave on his timesheet, resulting in approximately $77,000 in fraudulent compensation since his honorable discharge in 2015. In a request made late last year, he sought large sums of foreign currency and gold bars for purported work-related expenses.
Following his arrest, the FBI searched Rush's home and discovered over 300 gold bars valued at around $40 million, along with $2 million in cash and numerous luxury watches. The investigation revealed that Rush had committed multiple acts of fraud during his applications for government employment, leading to his eventual hiring in 2009. The CIA and FBI are cooperating to investigate further, with the CIA having referred the case to the FBI following internal findings of legal violations.