Ex-Senior CIA official embezzled $40m in Gold Bars for work-related expenses

https://apnews.com/article/cia-gold-bars-theft-arrest-689029ef34d6ccb2bb3aaf3f3cc259f4

130 points · 16 comments · view on lemmy.world

16 Comments

Sciaphobia@sh.itjust.works · 21 pts · 102d (6 replies)

It's good for the rest of us this guy didn't think about how hundreds of bars going missing would be noticed, but 1 may not have.

marine_mustang@sh.itjust.works · 15 pts · 102d (2 replies)

From November to March, Rush requested and received a “significant quantity of foreign currency and tens of millions of dollars in gold bars for work-related expenses,” according to an affidavit from an FBI agent investigating the case.

It’s not like he snuck them out of the vault…

Sciaphobia@sh.itjust.works · 9 pts · 102d (1 reply)

So he requested hundreds of gold bars instead of just one.... and someone noticed? Gotta be more careful with your fraud, waste, and abuse!

ToastedRavioli@midwest.social · 6 pts · 102d

We all know how these things go, typical stuff. You start with 2, keep one and give one away, but then somewhere along the line you find yourself submitting a requisition request for half of Fort Knox. We’ve all been there

ivanafterall@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 102d (2 replies)

Hell, take 5 or 10. But not HUNDREDS.

Man, I'd sure love to have a big gold bar. Not like in the greedy way. Just as a collector's item.

ThunderQueen@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 102d

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frongt@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 101d

You know you can just buy them, right?

Danarchy@lemmy.nz · 10 pts · 102d

Great so now they’re expected to cover their own out of pocket costs for running secret Central American torture schools?

CIA_chatbot@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 102d (2 replies)

What an amateur! I mean “Boooo, boo this man!”

ivanafterall@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 102d (1 reply)

Мы, американские граждане, обожаем этого парня с золотым слитком!

CIA_chatbot@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 102d

Oh sorry man, I only work the South Asia/South American circuit - East Europe is a totally different chatbot

quick_snail@feddit.nl · 9 pts · 101d (4 replies)

I don't understand what the problem is.

If he requested them and it was approved, what rule did he break? Shouldn't it be the person who approved the expense who is at fault?

He followed the process and left a transparent paper trail intentionally. He didn't steal it.

moistclump@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 101d (3 replies)

He had it all stored in personal storage, bought a bunch of luxury watches and had millions in cash lying around, and lied about his credentials for the job.

The FBI affidavit concludes that there’s probable cause to believe that Rush “knowingly embezzled, stole, purloined, or knowingly converted a thing of value of the United States” for his personal use.

I agree that some scrutiny should also go to the approver. I’ve heard that often in government fraud cases like this people are usually working together to get through required approvals and processes.

quick_snail@feddit.nl · 0 pts · 101d (2 replies)

The only thing he did wrong was lie about his credentials. Is that a criminal offence?

moistclump@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 100d (1 reply)

“knowingly embezzled, stole, purloined, or knowingly converted a thing of value of the United States”

quick_snail@feddit.nl · 2 pts · 100d

Read the article. Doesn't sound like he stole or embezzled.

Sounds like he asked his boss for something and it was approved.

Cort@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 102d

Anyone taking bets? Will he get locked up longer than Ollie North?