Former CIA Officer Pleads Guilty to Stealing Over $190 Million in Government Funds
A former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer, David J. Rush, has pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $200 million from the U.S. government by creating a fake top-secret program. The Department of Justice confirmed that Rush used his position at the CIA since 2010 to fabricate a special access program under the guise of a continuity-of-government plan and defrauded an unnamed defense contractor out of large amounts of gold, which he then pocketed. Rush was able to execute this scheme for over a year by leveraging his authority in intelligence programs. During his arrest, law enforcement discovered more than $46 million worth of gold bars at Rush’s home along with luxury items and cash. The plea deal avoids a trial that might have exposed weaknesses in the CIA's vetting process. Rush is set to be sentenced in late January 2027 and faces up to 20 years in prison. His actions shocked officials, as he worked on one of the government’s most sensitive intelligence programs with minimal oversight due to his high level of authority.
Topics: CIA gold theft government fraud intelligence agency scandal wire fraud