Former State Department Analyst Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Over $650,000 Amid Growing Scrutiny of Diplomatic Security

A senior budget analyst who worked under the Biden administration has pleaded guilty to stealing over $650,000 from the U.S. State Department, marking one of the largest internal theft cases in recent agency history.

Levita Almuete Ferrer, 64, of Maryland, admitted in court to systematically embezzling funds over a two-year period while employed as a senior budget analyst in the Office of the Chief of Protocol. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced the guilty plea on Wednesday.

Ferrer misused her authority over a State Department checking account from March 2022 through April 2024. According to prosecutors, she exploited her access to financial systems to write 63 fraudulent checks—60 of which were made out to herself and three to an individual with whom she had a personal relationship.

Using internal accounting software, Ferrer reportedly entered her own name as the payee before printing and signing each check. Afterward, she manipulated the records, altering payee information in the digital system to reflect legitimate State Department vendors. This method allowed her to cover her tracks and avoid detection for months.

Authorities said she deposited the checks into personal bank accounts, quietly siphoning off a total of $657,347.50 from government funds. To maintain the ruse, Ferrer used QuickBooks software to falsify transaction records and mask her involvement.

She has pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government property, a felony that carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison. Sentencing is scheduled for September 18. Under the terms of her plea agreement, Ferrer has agreed to pay full restitution and is subject to a forfeiture judgment equal to the stolen amount.

While the embezzlement case continues to generate headlines, it is not the only controversy currently facing the State Department.

Last month, a separate incident brought more scrutiny to the department’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), after a security agent assigned to Secretary of State Marco Rubio was arrested in Brussels, Belgium. According to reports, the agent became aggressive and physically combative at Hotel Amigo, a luxury establishment often frequented by visiting diplomats.

Witnesses say the agent became enraged when hotel staff refused to reopen the bar after hours. When employees, including the night manager, asked him to return to his room, the agent allegedly became physically threatening. Local police were called to de-escalate the situation, but the agent reportedly resisted arrest, leading to a scuffle with officers.

He was taken into custody but released later that day after intervention by the U.S. Embassy in Belgium. Rubio was not present during the incident but stayed at the same hotel later that week while attending a NATO summit.

The DSS is responsible for the protection of diplomats and diplomatic sites around the globe. However, several current and former agents have raised concerns over work conditions and burnout, especially for those serving in supervisory roles.

One source familiar with the Brussels incident described an overwhelming workload for DSS supervisors, particularly those assigned to high-profile officials such as Secretary Rubio.

“These supervisors are stretched incredibly thin,” the source told the Washington Examiner. “They’re expected to manage logistics, personnel, administrative tasks, and protection duties—sometimes six or seven days a week. The stress is unsustainable.”

The State Department confirmed that it was aware of the incident and noted that the matter was under internal review. “We are aware of the allegations involving a Diplomatic Security Service employee in Brussels on March 31, 2025,” a spokesperson said. “While we cannot comment on personnel matters, the situation is being evaluated.”

Secretary Rubio, who has emerged as a central figure in President Trump’s second-term cabinet, has remained publicly silent on the incident. In addition to his role as Secretary of State, Rubio currently holds several interim leadership positions, including national security adviser, acting administrator for USAID, and temporary head of the National Archives.

As both internal and public scrutiny mount, the State Department faces calls for better internal controls and oversight—not only in financial management but also in staff welfare and conduct.

The twin controversies—one involving financial misconduct, the other related to personnel behavior—highlight what some watchdogs are calling systemic gaps in accountability within one of the government’s most globally visible agencies.