Thought It Was a 'Top-Secret Operation,' but He Pocketed 260 Billion Won... 300 Gold Bars and Luxury Watches Found at His Home

Pocketed 260 Billion Won as a Former CIA Official
Federal Government Lost 260 Billion Won
Also Lied About Military Service and Education

A former senior official at the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) used his position to acquire assets worth 260 billion won, including gold bars and real estate, it has been revealed.

Gold bars and cash found at the home of former senior CIA official Rush David. U.S. Department of Justice.

According to the Associated Press, the BBC and other outlets on October 7 local time, the U.S. Department of Justice said on October 6 that David J. Rush, 49, a former senior CIA official, had pleaded guilty to diverting government funds to buy luxury real estate, gold bars and other items.

According to the indictment filed by prosecutors in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Rush held a senior position overseeing highly classified government programs at the CIA.

From around October 2025 through around May 2026, he allegedly abused his position to fabricate a highly classified government program in order to purchase four luxury properties in Palm Beach and Hobe Sound, Florida. He also allegedly fabricated a separate, false classified government activity to divert hundreds of gold bars.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Rush's fraud caused the federal government to lose approximately $194 million (about 259.7 billion won).

David Rush, a former senior official at the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Virginia Sheriff's Office

In May 2026, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) searched Rush's home and found 300 gold bars worth approximately $46 million (about 61.5 billion won), around $2 million in cash (about 2.76 billion won), and approximately 35 luxury watches.

Prosecutors also believe that Rush gave false information about his education and claimed to have served as a Navy "pilot" during his CIA hiring and security clearance review processes.

Rush is scheduled to be sentenced on January 28, 2027. If he is convicted of all the fraud charges and other offenses, he could face up to 20 years in prison, as well as forfeiture, restitution and fines.

Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement, "Federal employees are entrusted to serve the American people, not themselves." He added, "The Trump Administration is committed to rooting out waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government, including by prosecuting those who defraud American taxpayers."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.