"Was the Background Check Lax?"... Former CIA Agent Arrested for Stealing 303 Government-Owned Gold Bars

Indicted for Diverting $40 Million Worth of Gold Bars
$2 Million in Cash and 35 Luxury Watches Also Seized
WP Questions Effectiveness of U.S. Government's Background Check System

A former agent of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has been indicted on charges of stealing 303 gold bars owned by the government. The value of the gold bars he diverted is reported to be around 40 million dollars (approximately 6 billion won).

Gold bars (This photo is not directly related to the article). Pixabay

According to Yonhap News, citing The Washington Post (WP) on May 28 (local time), former CIA agent David J. Rush was arrested last week and charged with embezzlement of public funds, among other offenses. Rush is accused of diverting 303 gold bars, each weighing 1 kg and owned by the CIA, and hiding them at his home in Virginia.

Investigators reportedly found that, in addition to the gold bars, Rush also obtained various benefits by providing false credentials. He falsified his educational background and military service record, and it was revealed that he received 77,000 dollars (about 115 million won) in vacation allowances for which he was not eligible.

The CIA and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a joint statement saying, "The FBI arrested an individual on May 19 following a request from the CIA to investigate the matter." It was reported that the CIA, after identifying potential legal violations during an internal investigation, handed over relevant materials to the FBI.

During a search of Rush's home, the FBI seized 303 gold bars, each weighing 1 kg, and approximately 2 million dollars (about 3 billion won) in cash. They also confiscated 35 high-end luxury watches, including Rolexes. Rush is known to have worked in the CIA's Directorate of Science and Technology, which is responsible for developing advanced equipment used in intelligence operations.

WP reported that many details about the case remain unclear, stating, "Questions have been raised about how effectively the U.S. government's background checks were conducted, and how he was able to divert tens of millions of dollars worth of gold and large sums of cash."

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