Ex-CIA officer accused of stealing gold bars reaches tentative plea deal

Federal prosecutors have reached a tentative plea agreement with a former CIA officer accused of stealing hundreds of gold bars worth more than $40 million from the US spy agency and hiding them in his basement, according to court records. David Rush and federal justice department prosecutors have a “plea agreement in principle,” the parties stated in a Friday court filing. They have requested a three-week extension, through October 8, to finalize the paperwork and an agreed-upon statement of facts, citing that a pre-indictment resolution would conserve government and judicial resources.

Rush, a former executive service-level employee for the CIA, was fired after allegedly taking 303 gold bullion bars, each weighing 2.2lb (1kg), and over $2 million in foreign currency from his government office, an FBI affidavit stated. Investigators also found 35 luxury watches, many of them Rolex, during a search of his Virginia home. He was arrested on May 19 and charged with one count of stealing public money.

Prosecutors allege Rush falsified his educational qualifications and military service to secure his CIA job and submitted fraudulent timecards to claim about $77,000 for military leave he was not entitled to. After his arrest, investigators uncovered details of a fake classified program Rush had established to request the gold bars and foreign money as "work-related expenses." He had also allegedly lied about his academic credentials and military background on multiple employment applications, including falsely claiming to have been a navy pilot. Rush has been held in custody since his arrest, as he was deemed a flight risk. He had served 17 years with the CIA in its science and technology division.