A former senior authorities officer is accused of stealing cash from the federal government by mendacity about his educational credentials and navy expertise, in accordance with a federal criticism.
In the course of the investigation, FBI brokers discovered greater than 300 gold bars estimated to be price greater than $40 million and different valuables on the defendant’s Virginia residence, in accordance with the affidavit.
The previous authorities officer, David Rush, has been charged with theft of public cash, in accordance with a criticism filed within the Jap District of Virginia.
The affidavit describes him as a “former Senior Govt Service stage worker at a United States Authorities company” with prime secret-level clearance. He was a CIA officer, in accordance with a supply conversant in the case.
The affidavit alleges Rush fraudulently obtained an inflated wage and navy depart.
“After a CIA inside investigation recognized potential violations of the regulation, CIA Director John Ratcliffe referred the knowledge to the FBI for a regulation enforcement investigation,” CIA and FBI spokespersons mentioned in an announcement on the case Wednesday.
In a 2009 utility for a authorities place for which he was subsequently employed, Rush allegedly lied about acquiring a bachelor’s diploma from Clemson College and a grasp’s diploma from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, in accordance with the affidavit. The investigation revealed that Rush by no means attended or obtained a level from both establishment, in accordance with the affidavit.
“Primarily based on my coaching and expertise, I do know that federal worker salaries are decided by numerous elements, together with the worker’s schooling stage,” the affidavit acknowledged. “An worker with greater schooling ranges, equivalent to [a] Grasp’s diploma, would usually be anticipated to obtain the next pay scale than an identical worker doing comparable work with out an undergraduate or Grasp’s diploma.”
The reserving picture for David Rush, supplied by the Alexandria Sheriff’s Workplace.
Alexandria Sheriff’s Workplace
The affidavit additionally claims that Rush lied about his navy credentials whereas making use of to enter the senior govt service stage ranks and dedicated “timecard fraud” concerning navy depart. He allegedly claimed 744 hours of navy depart, leading to $77,000 in compensation, since being honorably discharged from the Navy in 2015, in accordance with the affidavit.
He was arrested by the FBI on Might 19, following a referral from the CIA, the company spokespersons mentioned.
“The FBI is working carefully with our companions on the CIA and the Division of Justice as we proceed to analyze this matter totally,” they mentioned in an announcement. “We’re dedicated to following the information, making certain accountability, and pursuing justice in accordance with the regulation.”
Rush is scheduled to have a detention listening to on Friday. His lawyer had no remark.
Amid the investigation, investigators decided that gold and forex that Rush requested for work functions was unaccounted for, in accordance with the affidavit.
Based on the affidavit, from November 2025 to March, Rush had requested “a major amount of overseas forex and tens of thousands and thousands of {dollars} in gold bars for work-related bills,” although a lot of it was unable to be positioned after reviewing the cupboard space the place he saved the forex at his workplace.
Whereas executing a search warrant for Rush’s dwelling on Might 18, FBI brokers seized roughly 303 gold bars, in accordance with the affidavit. Additionally they seized roughly $2 million and practically three dozen luxurious watches, lots of them Rolexes, it mentioned.
