Former CIA officer David Rush, 49, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud after admitting to defrauding the US government of about $200 million through fake contracts and fraudulent real estate deals.
Rush was arrested after investigators found 298 gold bars, $2 million in cash and 35 luxury watches at his home. Prosecutors said he had repeatedly requested large amounts of foreign currency and tens of millions of dollars in gold, claiming they were needed for work-related expenses.
According to court filings, Rush fabricated a highly classified programme to justify buying luxury properties in South Florida, which he planned to resell for personal profit. He allegedly used fraudulently obtained government funds to acquire the properties, including spending $40,000 on kitchen appliances for one of them.
