A former senior official of the Central Intelligence Agency has been arrested in the United States after federal investigators reportedly uncovered more than $40 million worth of gold bars, millions in cash and luxury items during a search of his residence in Virginia.
According to court documents, agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation recovered approximately 303 gold bars valued at over $40 million, alongside about $2 million in cash and roughly 35 luxury watches from the home of David Rush.
Reports indicated that Rush, who previously held top-secret security clearance and had access to classified information, was arrested on May 19 and charged with theft of government funds.
The investigation allegedly revealed that Rush falsified details about his educational qualifications and military service while applying for his government position. Authorities claimed he lied about earning university degrees and serving as a naval pilot.
Federal investigators also accused him of submitting fraudulent timesheets and improperly collecting about $77,000 in military leave payments by falsely presenting himself as a member of the Navy Reserves.
According to the affidavit, Rush had between November and March requested large amounts of foreign currency and tens of millions of dollars’ worth of gold bars from his employer, citing work-related purposes.
Authorities said the requests were approved and the materials were released to him, although details about the official purpose of the assets were not disclosed in court filings.
The investigation intensified after officials discovered that the gold bars and most of the cash were missing from a secured storage facility linked to the agency, prompting a search warrant for Rush’s residence.
The search led to the recovery of the gold, cash and luxury watches, raising questions about how the assets were allegedly diverted.
A lawyer representing Rush reportedly declined to comment on the allegations.
The case has drawn significant attention in the United States because of Rush’s previous access to classified government information and the enormous value of the recovered assets.
