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A Former Diversity Program Manager at Facebook and Nike Sentenced for Embezzlement
In recent news, a former diversity program manager at Facebook and Nike, Barbara Furlow-Smiles, has been sentenced to five years and three months in federal prison after pleading guilty to embezzling over $5 million to support her lavish lifestyle, according to the Department of Justice.
The Elaborate Scam
Barbara Furlow-Smiles, a Georgia resident, orchestrated an intricate scheme involving fraudulent vendors, fake invoices, and cash kickbacks. U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan described it as a sophisticated operation that deceived both Facebook and Nike, resulting in a substantial financial loss for both companies.
After admitting to defrauding Facebook out of more than $4 million and subsequently moving on to target Nike, Furlow-Smiles continued her fraudulent activities even after being terminated from her position at Facebook. She exploited her role as a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) leader to embezzle funds from both companies, stealing a significant six-figure sum from Nike’s diversity program.
According to the Department of Justice, Furlow-Smiles, 38, held key positions at Facebook, known now as Meta, where she managed employee resource groups and diversity engagement. During her tenure, she abused her authority by linking personal payment accounts to company credit cards and using them to make unauthorized purchases.
The Deceptive Practices
To cover her tracks, Furlow-Smiles submitted falsified expense reports and enlisted the help of individuals, including friends, relatives, and former acquaintances, to launder the stolen funds. These individuals were compensated with a portion of the ill-gotten money through various means, such as bank transfers, cash transactions, and mail deliveries.
Her network of supposed vendors included a diverse group of individuals, ranging from friends and family members to service providers like nannies, babysitters, and even her university tutor. Additionally, Furlow-Smiles used the embezzled funds to pay for personal expenses, such as artwork commissions, preschool tuition, and other luxury items.
The Aftermath
Despite facing legal consequences for her actions, Furlow-Smiles demonstrated a brazen disregard for the law by continuing her fraudulent activities at Nike. FBI investigator Keri Farley remarked that Furlow-Smiles believed she was above reproach, leading to further financial losses for the company.
In total, Furlow-Smiles managed to siphon off nearly $5 million from Facebook and over $120,000 from Nike, all to fuel a lavish lifestyle across multiple states. Following her sentencing, she will be subject to three years of supervised release, underscoring the gravity of her offenses and the need for accountability in corporate environments.
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