Ex-State Department Employee Embezzled More Than $650,000

Former State Department budget analyst Levita Almuete Ferrer has pleaded guilty to embezzling over $650,000 in taxpayer funds through an elaborate check scheme, raising serious questions about financial oversight at one of America’s most critical federal agencies.

Quick Takes

Ferrer issued 63 fraudulent checks totaling $657,347.50 while working as a Senior Budget Analyst in the State Department’s Office of the Chief of Protocol.
She concealed her theft by manipulating Quickbooks records, changing payee names after printing checks.
The 64-year-old Maryland resident faces up to 10 years in prison with sentencing scheduled for September 2025.
As part of her plea agreement, Ferrer must pay full restitution of $657,347.50.

Two-Year Embezzlement Scheme Exposed

Levita Almuete Ferrer, 64, of Montgomery Village, Maryland, exploited her position as a Senior Budget Analyst in the State Department’s Office of the Chief of Protocol to systematically steal government funds over a two-year period. Court documents reveal Ferrer abused her authority over a government checking account by issuing 60 checks to herself and three additional checks to an individual with whom she maintained a personal relationship. The total amount stolen reached $657,347.50, all of which she deposited into her personal bank accounts.

To execute her scheme, Ferrer employed sophisticated measures to avoid detection. She utilized the office’s Quickbooks accounting system to conceal her activities, specifically by altering the payee names in the system after the checks had been printed. This manipulation created the appearance that payments were being made to legitimate vendors while the funds were actually flowing directly to Ferrer. The State Department’s Office of Inspector General and Diplomatic Security Service ultimately uncovered the fraud through their investigation.

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

Legal Consequences and Restitution

Ferrer has officially pleaded guilty to theft of government property before US District Judge Christopher R. Cooper. The charge carries serious consequences, with Ferrer facing a maximum potential sentence of 10 years in federal prison. Her sentencing has been scheduled for September 18, 2025, giving investigators additional time to fully assess the impact of her actions and potentially uncover any additional misconduct that may have occurred during her employment with the State Department.

The prosecution team is being led by Assistant US Attorney Kondi Kleinman, with investigative assistance from Assistant US Attorney Katherine Orville and support from Paralegal Specialist Sona Chaturvedi. Their thorough work has resulted in a plea agreement that requires Ferrer to make full financial restitution. She has agreed to pay back the entire $657,347.50 she stole and is additionally liable for a forfeiture money judgment of the same amount – essentially doubling her financial obligation to the government.

This case raises questions about potential vulnerabilities in the State Department’s financial oversight systems. The Office of the Chief of Protocol, where Ferrer worked, plays a crucial role in managing diplomatic relations and organizing official visits by foreign dignitaries.