David J. Rush, 49, of Ashburn, Virginia, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, October 6, to one count of wire fraud in federal court. The U.S. Department of Justice puts the loss to the government at approximately $194 million. The Associated Press identifies Rush as a former senior CIA official. The DOJ release does not name the agency. It says he held a senior executive-level position with a federal agency and a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance.

The DOJ says Rush created fictitious government authorities, including a fabricated Special Access Program, to get government funds for himself. He acquired gold bars and directed approximately $145 million in wire transfers for luxury real estate, watches and at least one car. CBS News, citing the criminal information, reports the money bought four luxury homes in Palm Beach and Hobe Sound, Florida.

On May 19, 2026, the FBI searched his home and recovered 298 gold bars, approximately $2,106,550 in cash, €104,795 and numerous luxury watches, the DOJ said. The AP reports Rush also admitted he gave a foreign government official information about the identity of a secret U.S. government source. The filing does not name the country.

"By his own admission, David Rush defrauded the government of hundreds of millions of dollars, and then misused those funds for extravagant purchases," FBI Director Kash Patel said in the DOJ release.

Sentencing is set for Jan. 28, 2027, before U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff, the AP reports. Rush faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. He agreed to forfeit the gold, the cash, the properties, 30 watches and two 2026 BMW Alpina vehicles.

He admitted exposing a U.S. human source to a foreign official. The country is not named.

Fortune reports the Director of National Intelligence has asked the intelligence community's inspector general to investigate.