A former senior CIA official pleaded guilty on Tuesday in Virginia to a charge that he abused his position and government funds to enrich himself by acquiring Florida real estate and hundreds of gold bars worth over $40 million, according to court records.
David J. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff is scheduled to sentence Rush on Jan. They also accused him of fraudulently claiming tens of thousands of dollars in compensation for military leave after he was honorably discharged from the U.S.
Rush, 49, of Ashburn, Virginia, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, court records show. 28 in Alexandria, Virginia. In previous court filings, prosecutors said Rush stashed roughly $46 million worth of gold bars from the federal government at his Virginia home. Navy in 2015. Rush was arrested after investigators searched his home and seized approximately 300 gold bars, roughly $2 million in U.S. currency and about 35 luxury watches, according to an FBI agent’s affidavit.
Rush fabricated a “highly classified” government program to justify the acquisition of luxury property in south Florida that he intended to resell for personal profit, according to a court filing. Rush separately concocted a bogus “sensitive government activity” to obtain the gold bars, the filing says. “Rush used his legitimate government authority and manufactured personal bona fides to create confidence in his directions,” the court filing says.
A judge ordered Rush to be held without bond after his initial court appearance earlier this year.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe said the agency immediately referred the matter to the FBI after an internal investigation turned up evidence of Rush’s crimes.
