Former CIA Official Arrested After Authorities Find Over $42 Million in Gold and Cash at His Home
A former CIA official has been arrested after federal authorities discovered hundreds of gold bars and millions of dollars in cash hidden inside his Virginia residence, according to court documents.
David Rush, who is no longer employed by the CIA, was taken into custody following an investigation into allegations that he improperly obtained tens of millions of dollars in gold bars and foreign currency that had been approved for work-related expenses.
According to charging documents, investigators were unable to account for most of the foreign currency or any of the gold bars that had been issued. The missing assets prompted the FBI to obtain and execute a search warrant at Rush’s home.
During the May 18 search, FBI agents seized approximately 303 gold bars valued at more than $40 million, around 35 luxury watches, and roughly $2 million in cash, a federal agent told the court in Alexandria, Virginia.
Rush has been charged with theft of public funds, a federal offense that carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years if he is convicted.
He appeared in federal court on May 22 and sought release on bond, but a magistrate judge ordered that he remain in custody pending further proceedings. His next court hearing is scheduled for June 5. An attorney representing Rush declined to comment on the case.
In a joint statement provided to The Epoch Times, the CIA and FBI said the investigation began after the CIA referred the matter to federal law enforcement.
“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,” the statement said.
“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.”
Court records describe Rush as a former senior employee of a U.S. government agency who held top-secret security clearance and had access to classified information.
The documents also state that Rush claimed on his government employment application that he graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and served as a pilot in the U.S. Navy. Investigators later determined that he had never attended the institute and found no evidence that he had served as a Navy pilot.
Authorities allege that between November 2025 and March 2026, Rush requested large amounts of foreign currency and gold bars from the government for official expenses, and those requests were approved.
However, when investigators reviewed the office and storage facilities assigned to Rush, they found only a portion of the foreign currency and none of the gold bars. Further inquiries into government records failed to determine what had happened to the missing assets.
The discovery led federal agents to search Rush’s residence, where they recovered the gold, cash, and other valuables, resulting in his arrest and the ongoing criminal case.