() A former budget analyst for the State Department has pleaded guilty to embezzling $657,347.50 during her employment.

Levita Almuete Ferrer, 64, of Maryland, admitted she used her signature authority over a checking account for the State Department between March 2022 and April 2024.

Ferrer, also known as Levita Brezovic, attempted to hide the scheme through a QuickBooks account, specifically assigning herself as the payee and printing them.

She would often then alter the payee in QuickBooks to a genuine State Department vendor, making it difficult to trace her activities.

Ferrer pleaded guilty to theft of government property and will be sentenced on Sept. 18. She faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.

As part of her guilty plea, Ferrer agreed to pay the amount stolen in restitution to the U.S. government and “be liable for a forfeiture money judgment in that same amount,” according to a Justice Department release.