A Biden administration State Department budget analyst has pleaded guilty to embezzling over $650,000 in taxpayer funds, raising serious questions about financial oversight within federal agencies.
Quick Takes
- Levita Almuete Ferrer, 64, pleaded guilty to embezzling $657,347.50 through 63 fraudulent checks over a two-year period
- The former State Department budget analyst faces up to 10 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for September 18
- Ferrer attempted to conceal her theft by altering QuickBooks records to make payments appear as legitimate vendor transactions
- She has agreed to pay full restitution and will be liable for a forfeiture money judgment equal to the stolen amount
- The case highlights significant vulnerabilities in financial controls at the State Department under the Biden administration
Systematic Theft from Taxpayers
Between March 2022 and April 2024, Levita Almuete Ferrer exploited her position as a State Department budget analyst to orchestrate a sophisticated embezzlement scheme. The 64-year-old government employee misused her authority over a State Department checking account to write 60 checks to herself and three additional checks to someone with whom she maintained a personal relationship. The systematic nature of the theft suggests the absence of adequate financial controls within this critical government department responsible for managing millions in taxpayer dollars.
“A former State Department budget analyst has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $650,000 from the agency over a two-year span, according to the US Attorney’s Office in Washington, DC.” – US Attorney’s Office in Washington, DC
The embezzled funds totaled a staggering $657,347.50, all of which Ferrer deposited directly into her personal bank accounts. This significant sum represents taxpayer money that was diverted away from legitimate government operations and into the personal finances of a trusted public servant. The case exemplifies the vulnerability of government financial systems to insider threats when proper oversight mechanisms fail to detect suspicious activities over extended periods.
Elaborate Cover-Up Attempts
Ferrer’s embezzlement scheme involved more than simply writing unauthorized checks. To conceal her fraudulent activities, she manipulated the State Department’s QuickBooks accounting system by initially assigning herself as the payee before printing the checks. She then altered the payee information in QuickBooks to make it appear that payments were going to legitimate State Department vendors rather than to her personal accounts, creating a false paper trail.
“She printed and signed each check and then deposited all 63 checks, which totaled $657,347.50, into her personal checking and savings accounts.” – United States Attorney’s Office
The sophisticated nature of this cover-up raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of internal controls within the State Department. That a single employee could manipulate financial records and divert significant sums without detection for over two years represents a breakdown in oversight protocols that should normally prevent such activities. The case reveals potential systemic vulnerabilities in how government agencies protect against financial fraud from within.
Legal Consequences and Accountability
Following her guilty plea, Ferrer now faces significant legal repercussions for her actions. U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper has scheduled her sentencing for September 18, where she could receive up to 10 years in federal prison. As part of her plea agreement, Ferrer has agreed to pay full restitution for the entire amount stolen from the State Department, totaling $657,347.50.
Beyond restitution, Ferrer will also face a forfeiture money judgment equal to the amount she embezzled. The case was thoroughly investigated by the State Department’s Office of Inspector General and Diplomatic Security Service, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman, and additional investigatory work conducted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Orville. The prosecution team’s diligence ultimately brought this financial crime to light after years of successful concealment.
“This case was investigated by the State Department’s Office of Inspector General and Diplomatic Security Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Sona Chaturvedi.” – press release
