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Ex-CIA official found with gold bars admits to sprawling scheme, agrees to forfeit $194 million

Rush admitted fabricating classified programs to divert nearly $200 million in government funds and acquire gold bars, luxury homes and watches.

  • On Tuesday, former CIA official David Rush pleaded guilty to wire fraud in Alexandria, Virginia, admitting he fabricated classified government programs to divert nearly $200 million in public funds.
  • Prosecutors said Rush invented fake 'highly sensitive and classified government programs' to steer $145 million to a holding company, later using the funds to purchase gold bars and four Florida properties.
  • As part of his plea agreement, Rush agreed to forfeit at least $194 million, including 298 gold bars and $2 million in cash found by FBI agents during a search of his home.
  • Rush had been fired after falsifying his academic and military records. Investigators believe additional assets remain missing, with four people familiar with the case telling NBC News more could be hidden.
  • The U.S. intelligence community inspector general continues investigating how the CIA missed Rush's alleged falsehoods on his application. Meanwhile, the FBI cleared Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg of wrongdoing despite his professional relationship with Rush.
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A former CIA agent, the US Central Intelligence Agency, at whose home more than $46 million in gold ingots had been discovered, pleaded on Tuesday guilty to embezzlement of public funds.

·Montreal, Canada
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NBC News broke the news in New York, United States on Monday, October 5, 2026.
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