David J. Rush, a former senior CIA official with Top Secret clearance, pleaded guilty in a Manhattan federal court this week to a $194 million fraud scheme that siphoned federal funds into a shell company he set up to buy high‑end Florida real estate.
Prosecutors say Rush fabricated a Special Access Program, SAP #1, and used its secrecy to convince contractors that their work served national‑security needs, thus blocking routine oversight.
Under the scheme, a contractor transferred $145 million to a holding company in Rush's name; the money was immediately used to purchase four properties — a $13.9 million parcel at 243 Seaspray Avenue in Palm Beach in December 2025, a $22.9 million home at 236 Via Las Brisas the same month, a $27 million property at 311 Polmer Park Road in January 2026, and a $40 million parcel at 511 South Beach Road in Hobe Sound in February 2026.
The forfeiture order also targets 298 gold bars, four luxury watches worth $63,700, and a BMW Alpina XB7 valued at $172,232, all acquired with the diverted funds.
FBI Director Kash Patel condemned Rush's conduct as a betrayal of public trust, and the court has ordered restitution and asset forfeiture, with a final hearing slated for next month.