Judge Orders Pretrial Detention For Ex-cia Official Accused Of Stashing $40 Million In Gold Bars At Home

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A erstwhile elder CIA charismatic accused of stashing much than $40 cardinal worthy of golden bars from nan national authorities astatine his Virginia location was ordered to stay jailed until his proceedings aft a proceeding Friday wherever a defense lawyer accused prosecutors of smearing nan charismatic pinch “sensational,” irrelevant allegations.

The defendant, David J. Rush, has some nan intends and motive to fly while nan lawsuit against him is pending, U.S. Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick ruled, citing Rush’s master experience.

“He’s successful a different position than astir group to fly and debar discovery by rule enforcement,” Fitzpatrick said.

Rush is charged pinch fraudulently claiming tens of thousands of dollars successful compensation for subject time off aft he was honorably discharged from nan U.S. Navy successful 2015. He was arrested past period aft investigators searched his location and seized much than 300 golden bars, astir $2 cardinal successful U.S. rate and astir 35 luxury watches, according to an FBI agent’s affidavit.

Rush’s attorney, Jessica Carmichael, noted that Rush isn’t charged pinch immoderate crimes related to nan find of nan golden bars, which she referred to arsenic “basically a non-issue” and “nothing much than a sensational tidbit.” She said Rush decently obtained nan golden bars and kept them locked successful a safe successful his basement.

“Mr. Rush ne'er claimed they were his,” she said.

Between past November and March, Rush requested and received a “significant quantity” of overseas rate and tens of millions of dollars successful golden bars for “work-related expenses,” according to nan FBI affidavit. Justice Department charismatic Gavin Tisdale said Rush wasn’t expected to person nan golden bars astatine his home.

“That’s nan rumor — his skirting of rules and regulations,” he said.

Tisdale concisely summarized nan lawsuit against Rush successful unfastened tribunal aft a information of nan proceeding was sealed from nan public. The grounds against Rush “grows stronger by nan day,” Tisdale told nan magistrate judge.

“Mr. Rush simply cannot beryllium trusted to abide by this court’s conditions,” he said.

Rush enlisted successful nan Navy successful 1997 and was honorably discharged from nan U.S. Navy Reserves arsenic a lieutenant successful 2015, according to nan affidavit.

Authorities declare Rush lied astir his acquisition and subject inheritance connected occupation applications, falsely claiming to beryllium a erstwhile Navy aviator who graduated pinch a bachelor’s grade from Clemson University successful South Carolina and a master’s grade from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute successful New York.

Investigators wished that he didn’t service arsenic a Navy aviator and didn’t be either school.

Kunzelman writes for nan Associated Press.