US authorities have arrested a former senior CIA official after investigators recovered gold bars worth about $40 million from his home in Virginia, according to court documents.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officers also seized around $2 million in cash and nearly 35 luxury watches during the search at the residence of David Rush.
The New York Times, quoting people familiar with the investigation, reported on Wednesday that Rush previously served as a senior CIA official.
Court documents show that Rush provided false details in his job application. He reportedly misrepresented his academic qualifications and military background. He also falsely claimed to have university degrees and service as a naval pilot.
Investigators said he submitted fraudulent time sheets and collected about $77,000 in military leave pay by falsely claiming he served in the navy reserves.
The affidavit describes Rush as a former senior employee of a US government agency with top-secret clearance and access to classified information.
Authorities arrested him on May 19 and charged him with theft of government funds.
A lawyer for Rush declined to comment to The New York Times.
The affidavit further states that from November to March, Rush repeatedly requested large sums of foreign currency and tens of millions of dollars in gold bars from his employer, claiming they were needed for work-related expenses.
Authorities said he received the cash and gold, but investigators did not specify the purpose behind the request.
Officials later found that the gold and most of the cash had gone missing from a storage facility at his workplace.
A subsequent search of his home uncovered around 303 gold bars, valued at over $40 million, along with the seized cash and watches.
