A former CIA official allegedly stole hundreds of gold bars from the federal government in criminal activity amounting to about $40 million.
The former official, David J. Rush, was arrested on May 19 and now faces charges for theft of public money. He allegedly cheated the government out of millions of dollars while pretending to be a Navy Reserve captain and Air Force test pilot, Fox News reports.
“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,” a written statement from the CIA and FBI, obtained by NBC News, says. “The FBI is working closely with our partners at the CIA and the Department of Justice as we continue to investigate this matter fully. We are committed to following the facts, ensuring accountability, and pursuing justice in accordance with the law.”
According to an affidavit from the case, reported by the Associated Press, Rush requested and received a “significant quantity of foreign currency and tens of millions of dollars in gold bars for work-related expenses.” It notes that there is probable cause to believe the former official “knowingly embezzled, stole, purloined, or knowingly converted a thing of value of the United States” for his own use.
Rush’s home was searched on May 18, where federal authorities seized 300 gold bars. An estimated $2 million in U.S. currency was also taken, as well as about 35 luxury watches. While Rush’s official role is unknown, reports indicate that he was a “former senior executive service-level employee at a United States government agency.”
