A former senior budget analyst at the U.S. State Department has admitted to embezzling more than $650,000 over a two-year span, federal prosecutors announced.

Levita Almuete Ferrer, 64, of Maryland, used her access to a department checking account to write dozens of checks to herself and another individual with whom she had a personal relationship. According to court documents, the theft occurred between March 2022 and April 2024 while she worked in the Office of the Chief of Protocol.

Ferrer, also known as Levita Brezovic, wrote and signed 63 checks totaling more than $657,000. She then deposited them into her personal accounts. To cover her tracks, she used accounting software to create records that initially showed herself as the payee. After printing the checks, she would change the payee name in the system to make it appear as if the funds went to legitimate vendors.

Prosecutors said Ferrer deliberately manipulated records to avoid detection. She pleaded guilty to theft of government property and will be sentenced on September 18. Ferrer faces a maximum prison term of 10 years. As part of her plea deal, she has agreed to repay the full amount and is also subject to a forfeiture judgment equal to the embezzled funds.

In a separate recent incident involving the State Department, a member of a diplomatic security team was briefly detained in Brussels after an altercation at a hotel. The agent, who was assigned to protect U.S. officials abroad, reportedly became aggressive after being denied service at a closed hotel bar. Belgian police were called, and the agent was restrained and taken into custody.

The agent was released later that day with the involvement of the U.S. Embassy. Sources close to the matter described extreme levels of stress and exhaustion among diplomatic security staff, pointing to long work hours and high administrative demands as contributing factors to the incident.

A spokesperson for the State Department confirmed awareness of the Brussels incident and stated that it was under internal review.

Both cases have raised concerns about oversight and support for federal personnel managing sensitive responsibilities, underscoring the importance of strong safeguards and accountability within public service roles.