A former CIA officer has admitted creating a fake top-secret US government programme that he allegedly used to divert nearly $200 million in government funds, including millions of dollars worth of gold bars.
David J. Rush, a Virginia resident and former senior CIA officer, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, the US Department of Justice said on Tuesday.
Prosecutors said Rush used his position and access within the CIA to create a fabricated special access programme and a fake government contract, which he used to deceive a defence contractor into purchasing large quantities of gold.
Investigators recovered more than $46 million worth of gold bars from Rush’s home following his arrest. Authorities also found more than $2 million in cash, as well as cars and watches allegedly connected to the fraud.
According to court filings, Rush created the fraudulent programme in 2025 under the guise of a “continuity of government” operation designed to ensure government operations could continue during a war, natural disaster or other major catastrophe.
Special access programmes are among the US government’s most tightly controlled intelligence operations, with access restricted to a small number of authorised officials.
Prosecutors said Rush exploited his authority to effectively serve as his own approving official, allowing him to spend substantial amounts of government money with little meaningful oversight.
Rush had worked at the CIA since 2010 and was previously associated with a division involved in developing hacking tools and techniques for espionage, according to court documents and earlier reports.
The case has raised questions about how Rush passed the agency’s vetting process and how the alleged fraud continued undetected for more than a year despite his access to sensitive programmes and government funds.
Prosecutors also said Rush had misrepresented aspects of his education and military background to secure his position at the CIA.
Rush’s guilty plea avoids a trial, potentially limiting the amount of sensitive information about CIA operations that could have emerged in open court.
He is scheduled to be sentenced in January 2027 and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
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