Ex-CIA officer arrested with 303 gold bars valued at $40 million

A former high-ranking CIA official was arrested after FBI agents discovered 303 gold bars worth more than $40 million at his home in Virginia. David Rush, who held a senior position at the American intelligence agency until recently, received the bars citing work-related expenses.

Segundo court documents, Rush made multiple requests to the U.S. government between November 2025 and March 2026 to obtain a significant amount of foreign currency and tens of millions of dollars in gold bars for “work-related expenses.” The government later provided the materials.

Descoberta during authorized search

The FBI executed a search warrant at Rush’s residence on May 18. Durante During the operation, agents seized approximately 303 gold bars, each weighing approximately 1 kilogram. Based on the current price of gold, the estimated value exceeded US$40 million.

The investigation was launched after the CIA was unable to locate the gold bars or significant amounts of foreign currency that Rush received. CIA Director John Ratcliffe forwarded the findings to the FBI for investigation by law enforcement.

Additional Acusações against Rush

Rush faces formal charges of criminal theft of public funds. Além Additionally, court documents reveal allegations that he lied about his education and military service when applying for government office. Ele is also accused of fraudulently taking military leave while receiving thousands of dollars in pay.

Investigators also found in the property:

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• Aproximadamente US$2 million in US currency
• 35 luxury watches, many of them Rolexes
• Documentos indicating that Rush had top secret clearance and access to classified information

Detenção and next steps

Rush was arrested on May 19 following the search warrant. Permanece detained pending hearing this week. Seu’s lawyer declined to comment on the case.

Court documents describe Rush as a former senior executive at a U.S. government agency in Virginia. Authorities did not indicate in court records why he kept the gold bars and currency in his home.

Investigação from the CIA

The intelligence agency identified potential legal violations during an internal review. The CIA was unable to locate any record of Rush providing information to his employers as to the whereabouts of the gold coin or bars he received for work purposes.

The FBI confirmed in a written statement that it arrested the individual following a referral from the CIA. The operation marks the closure of an investigation that began when the intelligence agency was unable to reconcile materials Rush claimed to have received with government records.