The ultimate side hustle
Real talk: most people’s 'get rich quick' schemes involve dropshipping or crypto scams. David J. Rush, a former CIA officer, apparently decided to go the 'create a fake top-secret government operation' route instead. It’s giving main character energy, but in the absolute worst way possible.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Justice confirmed that Rush pleaded guilty to wire fraud. The scale here is actually wild—he managed to funnel nearly $190 million in government funds into his own pockets. The plot thickens when you realize how he did it: he faked his way into the agency by lying about his military and education history, then set up a fake 'special access program' (SAP).
The fake disaster plan
SAPs are basically the elite level of government secrecy—the kind of stuff that only a handful of people know exists. Rush allegedly told a defense contractor that his fake program was a 'continuity of government' plan designed to keep the lights on during a massive disaster or war.
Because he had authority over intelligence spending, he basically acted as his own boss. He was able to approve his own expenditures without anyone checking his work. He literally tricked a defense contractor into buying hundreds of gold bars for the fake program, which he then snagged for himself. When law enforcement raided his place, they found $46 million in gold, plus watches, cars, and $2 million in cash. Lowkey, he was living like a movie villain.
Why it matters
This is a massive L for intelligence oversight. Rush was involved in some of the most sensitive programs in the country, yet he operated undetected for over a year. He’s looking at up to 20 years in prison when he’s sentenced in January 2027. The plea deal saves him from a public trial, which is probably a relief for the government—because explaining how one guy scammed them for nearly $200 million while he was supposedly working in counter-espionage is a PR nightmare they probably don't want to deal with in open court.
