Re: CIA officer steals millions in fraud scam
By: Mike Powell to All on Fri Oct 09 2026 09:00:38
A 49-year-old man lied on his resume to get hired by the CIA - and
when he got a high-ranking position, he used it to steal millions of dollars from the US government. He then used
that money to fund a lavish lifestyle
and was ultimately caught - and is now facing 20 years in prison.
According to court documents, Rush lied during the job interview
about his education and military experience, which ultimately helped him land a senior executive-level position
with a federal agency. In that position, he held a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security
clearance - a designation some government agencies use to control access to some of the governments most sensitive
classified information.
This clearance allowed Rush to access highly classified US government intelligence, but more importantly, allowed
him to create a fake Special Access Program and get it funded. He then used this funding to wire himself roughly
$145 million, buying luxury real estate, watches, and at least one car. He also acquired 298 gold bars, worth
approximately $46 million. In total, Rush pocketed $193,590,400 in US government funds.
residence. They recovered 298 gold
bars, more than two million in cash, just over 100,000 in euros, and numerous luxury watches most of which were
Rolexes. He later pleaded guilty and agreed to forfeit the gold bars, the fiat currency, 30 watches, two 2026 BMW
Alpina cars (worth north of $150,000 - each), and all of the real estate he bought with the stolen money.
Rush allegedly constructed the compartmentalized program as a fake continuity of government plan, to be used in
case of war, natural disaster, or similar major and disruptive event. The gold was apparently bought by a defrauded
defense contractor, which Rush later took home.
This is so nuts on so many different levels. Every time I read a version of this story I have so many more questions. the one that jumps out to me now that it's been made public that this was done in the name of a continuity of government program is exactly how many others like it have existed before that just kept on accumulating assets like this with nobody really caring at the chief of staff or cabinet level.
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