Former State Department Worker Pleads Guilty To Serious Charges

A Biden-era State Department budget analyst has pleaded guilty to a brazen scheme that drained over $650,000 from government coffers through dozens of fraudulent checks written to herself over a two-year period.

Quick Takes

Levita Almuete Ferrer, 64, admitted to embezzling $657,347.50 while working as a budget analyst in the State Department’s Office of the Chief of Protocol.
Between March 2022 and April 2024, Ferrer issued 60 checks to herself and 3 to another individual, depositing all funds into her personal accounts.
She attempted to cover her tracks by falsifying QuickBooks records, changing payee information from her name to legitimate State Department vendors.
Ferrer faces up to 10 years in prison at her September 2025 sentencing and must pay full restitution.

Systematic Theft from Government Accounts

Levita Almuete Ferrer, a 64-year-old former State Department budget analyst from Montgomery Village, Maryland, has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $650,000 from the federal government. The theft, which occurred during the Biden administration, represents a significant breach of public trust by a government employee with financial oversight responsibilities. According to court documents, Ferrer systematically exploited her position in the Office of the Chief of Protocol to gain unauthorized access to State Department funds over an extended period.

The embezzlement scheme persisted for approximately two years, from March 2022 through April 2024. During this period, Ferrer abused her authority over a State Department checking account by writing dozens of fraudulent checks. The Justice Department investigation revealed that she issued 60 checks to herself and three additional checks to another individual, with the combined fraudulent transactions totaling $657,347.50. All 63 checks were ultimately deposited into Ferrer’s personal bank accounts for her private use.

Former State Department Budget Analyst Pleads Guilty to Embezzling More than $650,000 https://t.co/GKQmfn1735 @USAEdMartin @StateDeptDSS @StateOIG @USAO_SC pic.twitter.com/r8yC1eUVsn

— U.S. Attorney DC (@USAO_DC) April 30, 2025

Sophisticated Cover-Up Attempts

What makes this case particularly concerning is the calculated effort Ferrer made to conceal her criminal activity. Rather than simply stealing the funds, she implemented an accounting deception to mask her trail. After writing checks to herself, Ferrer deliberately altered the payee information in the State Department’s QuickBooks accounting records. She systematically changed entries that showed her name as the payee, replacing it with the names of legitimate State Department vendors to make the transactions appear routine and authorized.

The case was jointly investigated by the State Department’s Office of Inspector General and Diplomatic Security Service, highlighting the seriousness with which the government treats internal financial fraud. Assistant US Attorney Kondi Kleinman is leading the prosecution, with support from Paralegal Specialist Sona Chaturvedi and investigatory assistance from Assistant US Attorney Katherine Orville.

Legal Consequences and Sentencing

Ferrer has formally pleaded guilty to theft of government property, a serious federal offense that carries substantial penalties. U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper accepted her guilty plea and scheduled her sentencing for September 18, 2025. While the legal proceedings continue, Ferrer faces the possibility of significant incarceration, with statutory provisions allowing for up to 10 years in federal prison for this offense.

As part of her plea agreement, Ferrer has agreed to make full restitution in the amount of $657,347.50, representing the total sum she embezzled from taxpayers. Additionally, she will be liable for a forfeiture money judgment of the same amount. Judge Cooper will ultimately determine the final sentence based on US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors that consider both the severity of the offense and any mitigating circumstances present in the case.