A former senior CIA official with top secret-level clearance has been accused of stealing hundreds of gold bars worth more than $40 million from the US government and storing them at his home.
David Rush was arrested last week and charged with theft of public money, according to federal court filings in Virginia, where he resides.
Investigators allege that between November and March, Rush requested and received large amounts of foreign currency along with tens of millions of dollars’ worth of gold bars for what were described as “work-related expenses,” according to an FBI affidavit.
The affidavit says investigators remain unclear about the intended purpose of the funds, though part of the missing assets was recovered from a storage facility near Rush’s office.
Federal agents searched Rush’s home on May 18 and seized more than 300 gold bars valued at over $40 million, the affidavit states. Authorities also recovered about $2 million in cash and around 35 luxury watches, many of them Rolexes. Rush was arrested the following day, the FBI said.
According to the affidavit, investigators believe there is probable cause to conclude that Rush “knowingly embezzled, stole, purloined, or knowingly converted” US government property for personal use.
The FBI said the investigation is being conducted in coordination with the CIA and the Department of Justice.
Rush’s attorney declined to comment on Wednesday.
Court filings do not specify Rush’s role at the CIA or when he left the agency, identifying him only as a “former senior executive service-level employee at a United States government agency.” FBI spokespersons declined further comment, while the CIA did not respond to requests for comment.
The affidavit also alleges that Rush misrepresented his education and military background for years. Investigators found he had falsely claimed to be a Navy pilot and a graduate of both Clemson University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Instead, the FBI said Rush enlisted in the Navy in 1997 and later served in the US Navy Reserve from 2004 to 2015, when he was honorably discharged as a lieutenant. Investigators found no evidence that he underwent pilot training or attended either university.
Rush remains in custody ahead of a federal court hearing scheduled for Friday in Alexandria, Virginia.
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