A former senior CIA official has been accused of stealing more than $40 million in gold bars from the federal government and storing them inside his Virginia home, according to court documents and federal investigators.
David J. Rush, a former senior executive with a top-secret security clearance, was arrested last week and charged with theft of public funds after investigators allegedly discovered 303 gold bars, two million dollars in cash, and dozens of luxury watches during a search of his home.
Federal prosecutors said Rush made several requests between November 2025 and March 2026 to obtain large quantities of gold bars and foreign currency for what he described as “work-related expenses.”
According to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, the CIA later could not account for the gold or much of the currency.
The FBI executed a search warrant at Rush’s Virginia residence on May 18.
“During the search, FBI agents seized approximately 303 gold bars, each of which weighs approximately one kilogram. Based on the current price of gold, the estimated value of the gold exceeds $40 million,” the affidavit states, The Washington Post reported.
Investigators also seized about $2 million in cash and approximately 35 luxury watches, many of which were identified as Rolex watches, according to court records.
Rush waived his right to a preliminary hearing and remains in custody with the U.S. Marshals Service. A detention hearing is scheduled for June 5.
Court documents describe Rush as a former Senior Executive Service-level employee at a U.S. government agency who possessed top-secret and secure-compartmented information clearances. Former U.S. officials familiar with the matter said Rush worked within the CIA’s Directorate of Science and Technology, which develops technology for espionage operations.
The CIA and FBI said the arrest followed an internal CIA investigation.
“After a CIA internal investigation identified potential violations of the law, CIA Director John Ratcliffe referred the information to the FBI for a law enforcement investigation,” the FBI said in a statement, per the BBC.
Authorities also accused Rush of misleading the government about his education and military background.
According to the affidavit, Rush claimed to hold a bachelor’s degree from Clemson University and a master’s degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Investigators later found no record that he attended either school.
The affidavit also alleges Rush falsely claimed to have served as a U.S. Navy pilot.
While Rush was honorably discharged from the Navy in 2015, investigators said he continued claiming he remained in the Navy Reserve and improperly received compensation through military leave pay.
“Since being honorably discharged in February 2015, RUSH has claimed 744 hours of Military Leave on his official timesheet, representing approximately $77,000 in compensation,” the affidavit states, per The Washington Post.
The court documents do not explain why the gold bars and currency were allegedly kept at Rush’s home or how the materials were intended to be used.
Rush’s attorney, Jessica N. Carmichael, declined to comment.
