Ex-CIA official arrested after $40 million in gold bars found at home

A former CIA official was arrested last week after FBI agents found approximately 303 gold bars valued at more than $40 million at his home, according to court records. The arrest followed an internal CIA investigation that referred the matter to the FBI. Agents executed a search warrant at the residence on May 18 and also recovered $2 million in cash and 35 luxury watches.

Rush was charged with one count of stealing public money. The criminal complaint alleges he obtained a fraudulently inflated salary, fraudulently obtained military leave, and made multiple false statements about his background. Between November 2025 and March 2026, Rush allegedly requested large amounts of foreign currency and tens of millions of dollars in gold bars for work-related expenses.

The CIA later could not locate the gold or determine its intended use. S. Navy in 1997, claiming an undergraduate degree from Clemson University. He was later commissioned as an ensign in the Navy Reserves in 2004 and honorably discharged in 2015. Rush allegedly listed degrees from Clemson University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the Naval Postgraduate School on multiple federal job applications and security-clearance forms.

He also claimed to be a graduate of the United States Air Force Test Pilot School when applying for senior executive service in 2018.

Rush is being held in jail while prosecutors and defense attorneys gather additional information. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to postpone his detention hearing until June 5. Jessica Carmichael, Rush's defense attorney, declined to comment. The CIA and FBI stated they are continuing to investigate the matter.