A former budget analyst for the U.S. State Department has admitted to embezzling over $650,000 during her time working for the Biden administration, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C.
Levita Almuete Ferrer, 64, confessed to using her signature authority over a State Department account to steal the funds between March 2022 and April 2024. Ferrer, a senior budget analyst in the Office of the Chief of Protocol, was able to write 63 checks to herself and a person she knew personally, totaling $657,347.50.
Ferrer, who also goes by Levita Brezovic, tried to cover up the theft by using QuickBooks. She initially listed her own name as the payee and printed the checks, depositing them into her personal accounts. To hide her involvement, she altered the payee details in QuickBooks after printing the checks, replacing her name with that of a legitimate State Department vendor. This made it harder for anyone reviewing the records to trace the money back to her.
On Wednesday, Ferrer pleaded guilty to stealing government property and will be sentenced on September 18. She could face up to 10 years in prison. Under her plea deal, Ferrer has agreed to repay the full amount she stole and will also have to forfeit an equivalent sum.
In another incident involving the State Department, a security officer for Secretary of State Marco Rubio was arrested last month for a confrontation with police in Brussels. The Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) agent became aggressive when hotel staff at the Hotel Amigo refused to reopen the bar after hours. When police were called to the scene, the agent clashed with them, leading to his arrest. He was released later that day after the U.S. Embassy intervened.
DSS agents are responsible for protecting U.S. diplomats and investigating crimes like passport and visa fraud. Sources say that the agent’s erratic behavior might have been caused by the heavy workload many shift supervisors face. They are often responsible for scheduling, evaluations, and many administrative duties, in addition to their regular duties, which can be overwhelming. The incident is under investigation by the State Department.