FBI arrests CIA official with $40M in gold bars in his home

Post by unsupp0rted » Thu, May 28, 2026, 5:32 AM UTC

derefr wrote: post #128

Radle wrote: post #118

From last November to March, the court papers say, Mr. Rush asked for, and received, “a significant quantity of foreign currency and tens of millions of dollars in gold bars for work-related expenses.” Obvious plant nobody would be that stupid to store the valuables at home within the first six months after the „acquisition“. —— Also the CIA was unable to confirm his discharge with the navy earlier? As if people aren…

> nobody would be that stupid to store the valuables at home within the first six months after the „acquisition“. But where else would you keep it? A safe-deposit box at a bank? I think, if I received illegitimate gold bars and figured the FBI might look into that, I would choose to keep them somewhere where a judge would think twice before issuing a search warrant for. Judges don't generally just issue search warran…

Post by greenavocado » Thu, May 28, 2026, 5:33 AM UTC

solenoid0937 wrote: post #104

elektronika wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Watches are the commodity of choice for corruption in some circles. I know people in jewelry and a significant portion of their transactions are watches to Chinese businessmen, formerly through Hong Kong, now through Singapore. They're high value items with razor thin margins.

I collect watches worth >$100k and I promise you that most collectors in this range are just watch nerds that have more money than they know what to do with. Singapore is a big watch market because it has a very tight knit and wealthy collector community. Margins on most watches in this range are around 10% on the low end. I wouldn't call that razor thin.

Post by throwaway2037 » Thu, May 28, 2026, 5:34 AM UTC

cwsx wrote: post #115

solenoid0937 wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I collect watches worth >$100k and I promise you that most collectors in this range are just watch nerds that have more money than they know what to do with. Singapore is a big watch market because it has a very tight knit and wealthy collector community. Margins on most watches in this range are around 10% on the low end. I wouldn't call that razor thin.

What's the appeal of collecting high priced watches? Is it kind of like art collections, where its a decent store of value while maintaining a collection of something you are personally interested in? Or is it more for "love of the game"? Not saying its not a cool thing to collect, well made watches are a very cool piece of engineering, I'm just curious if there's any "special" appeal outside of "i like this thing an…

    > What's the appeal of collecting high priced watches?

Post by tgarrett » Thu, May 28, 2026, 5:35 AM UTC

kQq9oHeAz6wLLS wrote: post #125

There's a surprising number of CIA and secret agent experts in this comments section.

Post by greenavocado » Thu, May 28, 2026, 5:38 AM UTC

foobar1726 wrote: post #28

greesil wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because nobody reputable reported on it?

Reputable reporters know that publishing those stories leads to break-in burglaries where everyone is killed and nothing is stolen.