NoVA Man Pleads Guilty In $194M Government Fraud Case

ALEXANDRIA, VA – An Ashburn man has pleaded guilty to defrauding the U.S. government of nearly $194 million, including hiding more than $45 million in gold bars in his home.

David J. Rush, 49, pleaded guilty to a single count of wire fraud on Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Justice announced. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of twice the gross loss to the government, full restitution of what he stole, asset forfeiture and three years of probation.

According to court documents, Rush held a senior executive-level position with a federal agency understood to be the CIA. (He is never explicitly described as a CIA employee, but the CIA admits to turning the matter over to the FBI after an internal investigation.)

Rush also held a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance, which he gained by lying about his background, including making up university degrees and exaggerating his military service, according to the deal's statement of facts.

Rush used his position to create two fake government agencies as part of his fraud scheme. He used them to buy luxury real estate he intended to sell for his own profit and to acquire gold bars, among other sources of profit. Both were presented to contractors as operating for legitimate classified government operations.

Through these agencies, Rush directed contractors to buy real estate in Palm Beach, FL, to pay for private travel and amass tens of millions of dollars in gold, which he directed contractors to deliver to his Loudoun County office.

Rush also hoodwinked his own government colleagues, creating fake funding requirements for his programs and telling a colleague who questioned him that they did not have a “need to know” what the funding was for.

Rush also admitted to revealing to a foreign government official the existence of a U.S. government clandestine human source in 2025 and providing a description of that individual. No charges relating to this action were raised in the initial government affidavit or the final agreement.

According to the government, Rush fraudulently obtained approximately $193,590,400 in U.S. government funds. During a May 19 search of his home, the FBI found 298 gold bars, approximately $2.1 million in cash, €104,795 and a collection of luxury watches. The government assesses the value of the gold bars alone at $46 million.

Rush has agreed to forfeit the gold bars and currency found at his home, the fraudulently obtained properties, 30 watches, and two 2026 BMW Alpina vehicles, at least one of which is valued at approximately $172,000, according to the DOJ.

In mid-September, it was announced that the parties had come to an agreement on principle regarding a plea and requested another 21 days to complete paperwork for a potential pre-indictment resolution. A federal judge granted the request Friday, extending the government's deadline to indict Rush through Oct. 8.

The crime is listed as occurring in Fairfax County.

Rush admitted to robbing the government and using the money for his own “extravagant purchases,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a Justice Department release. “This plea demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to protecting the public’s trust; and that no government position, security clearance, or access to government resources places anyone above the law.”

“David Rush abused his position and betrayed the public trust and should be held fully accountable for his actions,” CIA Director John Ratcliffe said in the same release. “We appreciate our law enforcement partners in the FBI and Department of Justice for securing this outcome. The Agency is committed to ensuring that those entrusted with our Nation’s secrets are held to the absolute highest standard.”

Rush is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 28, 2027. The DOJ says its investigation is ongoing, and that the Director of National Intelligence has requested that the Inspector General for the Intelligence Community initiate an investigation.