Ex-CIA official accused of stealing US$40 million in gold bars pleads guilty

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 US$40 million, according to court records.

David J. Rush fabricated a “highly classified” government programme 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’s fraudulent conduct cost the federal government around US$194 million in total losses, according to the Justice Department.