Federal executive created fake program, diverted $145M; FBI found 298 gold bars in $193.6M fraud (Image Credit: USAO EDVA)
Rush held a senior executive-level position at a federal agency and had a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance, according to court documents cited by the DOJ. Prosecutors allege that Rush abused that position to create fictitious government authorities that appeared to have legitimate purposes.
Internal investigation led to FBI referral
Rush pleaded guilty on October 6, 2026, to executing the scheme to defraud the federal government. He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 28, 2027. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, along with up to three years of supervised release, forfeiture, restitution and a fine.
Because of Rush’s access to sensitive government information, the case also has a national-security dimension. Because of the nearly $194 million involved, but also because of how the money was allegedly obtained, the case stands out not only.
The CIA said it referred the matter to the FBI after its investigation raised concerns about Rush’s conduct. CIA Director John Ratcliffe said Rush had abused his position and betrayed the public trust. The FBI said his actions involved the manipulation of security protocols intended to protect highly sensitive information. The DOJ said the Director of National Intelligence has requested that the Inspector General for the Intelligence Community conduct a separate investigation.
The case began with an internal investigation that identified potential criminal activity. The FBI then investigated the alleged misuse of government resources and the movement of the money into personal assets. The final sentence will be decided by a federal judge after consideration of the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Justice Department’s investigation remains ongoing. Prosecutors say Rush used the authority and credibility attached to a senior federal position and a TS/SCI clearance to create a fictional government structure, obtain public funds and then convert much of that money into personal wealth. Rush’s guilty plea marks a major step in the case, while the continuing investigation could provide further details about how the alleged scheme operated and whether others were involved.