WASHINGTON — A high-ranking CIA officer arrested after federal agents said they found roughly 600 pounds of gold bars stashed in his home pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one count of wire fraud under an agreement with federal prosecutors.David Rush has been in jail since his arrest on May 19.
Federal agents alleged he had made up details about his education and military service record, fooling the nation’s top spy agency for years.Rush’s lawyers declined to comment.Investigators seized about 300 gold bars at Rush’s home, federal officials alleged, along with about $2 million in U.S.
currency and 35 luxury watches.More serious allegations have swirled around Rush, who had access to the nation’s most secret programs in his job at the CIA’s Directorate of Science and Technology.
He worked as a liaison to the Pentagon for sensitive military programs and worked closely with the Defense Department’s powerful second in command, Steve Feinberg, people familiar with the work have told NBC News.Rush was also accused of making up a top secret program for his own personal use, sources have told NBC News.
More on the David Rush case CIA officer accused of stealing gold bars was no low-level agentCIA officer arrested with gold bars worked on Pentagon’s nuclear sub program, sources sayBefore arrest with 303 gold bars, CIA officer spun tale he was Top Gun fighter pilotCIA officer’s arrest with 303 gold bars thrusts the Pentagon’s No.2 into an unwelcome spotlightUntil Tuesday, the now-ex-officer had only formally been charged with one count of theft of public funds, accused of falsifying pay records.
He had not yet been arraigned in the case and has been held behind bars since his arrest on concerns he’d flee the country.He was placed on leave sometime before his arrest and eventually fired from the CIA.
Rush’s defense team and prosecutors had recently asked for more time from the government to work on a possible agreement.Rush’s agreement means t...