A former senior authorities officer is accused of stealing cash from the federal government by mendacity about his educational credentials and navy expertise, in keeping with a federal criticism.
Through the investigation, FBI brokers discovered greater than 300 gold bars estimated to be value greater than $40 million and different valuables on the defendant’s Virginia residence, in keeping with the affidavit.
The previous authorities officer, David Rush, has been charged with theft of public cash, in keeping with a criticism filed within the Japanese District of Virginia.
The affidavit describes him as a “former Senior Government Service degree worker at a United States Authorities company” with high secret-level clearance. He was a CIA officer, in keeping with a supply accustomed to the case.
The affidavit alleges Rush fraudulently obtained an inflated wage and navy depart.
“After a CIA inner investigation recognized potential violations of the legislation, CIA Director John Ratcliffe referred the knowledge to the FBI for a legislation 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 keeping with the affidavit. The investigation revealed that Rush by no means attended or obtained a level from both establishment, in keeping with the affidavit.
“Primarily based on my coaching and expertise, I do know that federal worker salaries are decided by plenty of components, together with the worker’s schooling degree,” the affidavit said. “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 related work with out an undergraduate or Grasp’s diploma.”
The reserving photograph 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 government service degree ranks and dedicated “timecard fraud” relating to 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 keeping with the affidavit.
He was arrested by the FBI on Could 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 research this matter absolutely,” they mentioned in an announcement. “We’re dedicated to following the info, making certain accountability, and pursuing justice in accordance with the legislation.”
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 keeping with the affidavit.
Based on the affidavit, from November 2025 to March, Rush had requested “a big amount of overseas forex and tens of tens of millions of {dollars} in gold bars for work-related bills,” although a lot of it was unable to be situated after reviewing the space for storing the place he saved the forex at his workplace.
Whereas executing a search warrant for Rush’s residence on Could 18, FBI brokers seized roughly 303 gold bars, in keeping with the affidavit. In addition they seized roughly $2 million and practically three dozen luxurious watches, lots of them Rolexes, it mentioned.
