Former CIA officer charged with stealing $40 million in gold bars

Federal prosecutors have charged a former senior CIA officer with theft of public money after investigators recovered more than 300 one-kilogram gold bars and roughly $2 million in cash from his Virginia residence. The gold bars are valued at more than $40 million. Agents also seized approximately 35 luxury watches, many of them Rolex models, during the search conducted earlier this month.

Investigation details The FBI affidavit states that the former officer began requesting large quantities of foreign currency and tens of millions of dollars in gold bars for work-related expenses starting last November. A subsequent CIA internal review found that only part of the requested cash remained in the agency storage space assigned to him.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe referred the matter to the FBI after the internal investigation identified potential legal violations. The agency’s review is continuing.

Alleged misrepresentations Court records allege the former officer fabricated academic and military credentials beginning with his 2009 CIA job application. Registrars at Clemson University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute told investigators they have no record of his attendance.

Military records show he was honorably discharged from the Navy Reserves as a lieutenant in 2015, yet he allegedly continued claiming military leave on CIA timesheets and stated he had risen to the rank of captain.

Rush of Ashburn, Virginia, was arrested on May 19. He remains in U.S. Marshals Service custody after a judge denied bond. A detention hearing originally set for Friday has been postponed to June 5 at the request of both parties. Rush has not yet entered a plea.