United States: Accused of embezzling $194 million, a former CIA agent pleads guilty

Nearly 300 gold bars, around $2 million in cash and around thirty luxury watches: the search carried out in May at the home of David Rush revealed the extent of the assets accumulated by this former CIA agent. On Tuesday, the 49-year-old pleaded guilty to embezzlement of public funds in federal court in Alexandria, near Washington.

David Rush was accused of embezzling nearly $194 million. As part of a deal with prosecutors, he admitted guilt to one count. His sentence is due to be handed down on January 28. He faces up to 20 years in prison, as well as a fine and restitution of misappropriated property.

A fictitious program to capture money

Between October 2025 and his arrest in May 2026, David Rush notably set up a fictitious program allowing him to capture funds intended for confidential operations. The money was notably used to buy properties in Palm Beach and Florida, as AP News points out, luxury watches, gold bars and at least one valuable car.

“Federal public servants are there to serve the American people, not themselves,” Justice Minister Todd Blanche said. CIA Director John Ratcliffe, for his part, said that “David Rush abused his position to deceive public trust and must be held accountable for his actions.” An internal CIA investigation led the agency to report his case to the FBI.

He had also lied about his diplomas and his career

David Rush had “top secret” clearance and could access classified information. He got his job in the CIA after lying about his education and his career in the US Navy. At the end of 2025, he also transmitted confidential information concerning a clandestine human source from the United States to an official of an unidentified foreign government.

Our file on the United States

However, the former CIA agent is not being prosecuted for this transmission of information. The prosecution relates to the embezzlement of public funds which allowed him to accumulate considerable assets, including more than $46 million in gold bars found in his home.