A former budget analyst for the State Department during the Biden administration has admitted to embezzling over $650,000 across two years.
Levita Almuete Ferrer, 64, from Maryland, allegedly wrote 60 checks to herself and three to an associate while overseeing a State Department checking account.
The embezzlement reportedly took place from March 2022 to April 2024, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington D.C.
“She printed and signed each check, depositing all 63 checks—which amounted to $657,347.50—into her personal accounts,” a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office indicated.
Prosecutors assert that Ferrer tried to hide her actions by altering the “listed payee” in QuickBooks from herself to an actual State Department vendor. Consequently, anyone reviewing those entries wouldn’t see her name as the payee unless they checked the audit trail.
In a plea agreement, Ferrer will reimburse $657,347.50 to the federal government and could face up to ten years in prison.
The investigation was conducted by the State Department’s Office of Inspector General and the Diplomatic Security Service, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman, supported by Paralegal Specialist Sona Chaturvedi. Additional investigative work was performed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Orville from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 18th.
