A former senior budget analyst for the U.S. State Department has pleaded guilty to embezzling over $650,000 in federal funds, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C.

Levita Almuete Ferrer, 64, of Maryland, admitted to misusing her authority over a department checking account between March 2022 and April 2024 while working in the Office of the Chief of Protocol. Prosecutors said Ferrer wrote and deposited 63 fraudulent checks totaling $657,347.50—60 made payable to herself and three to a person with whom she had a personal connection.

Authorities said Ferrer used accounting software to create the checks and tried to cover her tracks by later altering records to reflect legitimate vendors as the recipients. This deception made it difficult for internal systems to flag the transactions.

Ferrer also went by the name Levita Brezovic and used her access to both initiate and conceal the transfers. She pleaded guilty to theft of government property and will be sentenced on September 18. She faces up to 10 years in prison and has agreed to repay the full amount as restitution. A financial judgment matching the amount taken has also been filed against her.

In a separate incident involving the State Department, a member of the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) was briefly detained in Brussels after an altercation at a hotel. The agent, reportedly part of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s security team, became combative with staff and police following a dispute over hotel bar hours. The U.S. Embassy intervened, and the agent was released the same day.

Sources familiar with DSS operations said the agent had been under significant stress due to heavy workloads and long hours. While the State Department confirmed it was aware of the incident, no further details were provided as the matter remains under review.

Both cases have brought renewed attention to the demands placed on federal personnel and the importance of internal oversight mechanisms within U.S. agencies.