The officer worked for a CIA branch that pursues highly secret projects and had a professional relationship with the deputy defense secretary, sources told NBC News.

The longtime senior officer was also accused of lying about his background for nearly two decades, according to court documents about the case.

A former senior CIA official with top secret-level clearance is accused of stealing hundreds of gold bars worth more than $40 million from the federal government.

Federal officials searched his home on May 18 and seized more than 300 gold bars