CIA Officer Admits Fake Top Secret Program Was Used to Steal Over $190M

Former CIA officer David J. Rush pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud tied to a scheme prosecutors said masqueraded as a top secret government program. TechCrunch reports that Rush admitted to defrauding the U.S. government while working as a CIA officer on highly sensitive intelligence programs. The case centers on allegations that he created a fabricated operation and used a fake government contract to siphon money and gold.

According to the article, Rush used his position in 2025 to fabricate a special access program, a category reserved for highly sensitive surveillance or intelligence-gathering operations. Prosecutors said he used that structure to funnel U.S. government funds into his possession. The reported fake program was described as a continuity-of-government plan, and the contract allegedly led an unnamed defense contractor to buy large amounts of gold that Rush then pocketed.

Law enforcement found more than $46 million worth of gold bars at Rush’s house during his arrest, along with cars, watches, and more than $2 million in cash, according to TechCrunch. The article says the broader fraud involved almost $200 million and included hundreds of gold bars. Court filings cited by TechCrunch said Rush “effectively acted as his own approving official,” allowing substantial government spending without meaningful scrutiny.

The plea deal means Rush avoids trial, while the U.S. government likely avoids open-court scrutiny over how he passed vetting and how the conduct went undetected for more than a year. TechCrunch notes that Rush had significant authority over government intelligence programs and spending. He is scheduled to be sentenced in late January 2027 and faces up to 20 years in prison.