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Former Diversity Manager Sentenced for Stealing from Facebook and Nike
Barbara Furlow-Smiles Swindled Over $5 Million from Major Corporations
Barbara Furlow-Smiles, a former Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) program manager at Facebook and Nike, received a five-year prison sentence for embezzling more than $5 million from the two corporations to sustain her lavish lifestyle. Not only was she sentenced to jail, but she was also ordered to repay the stolen amount in full.
According to the Justice Department, the 38-year-old woman concocted phony business transactions, invoices, and events, including a Juneteenth celebration, to enrich herself.
Abusing Position of Trust for Personal Gain
Furlow-Smiles exploited her position of trust as a DEI executive at Facebook, stealing millions from the company with a scam involving fraudulent vendors, phony invoices, and money kickbacks, detailed US Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. She didn’t stop there. Even after losing her job at Facebook, she audaciously continued the fraud at Nike, stealing a sizable amount from their diversity program.
In December, Furlow-Smiles pled guilty to the wire fraud scheme that involved her taking more than $4.9 million from Facebook and a significant six-figure sum from Nike to finance her posh lifestyle across California, Georgia, and Oregon, reported the DOJ.
Financial Damages and Emotional Toll
According to statements in sentencing memos acquired by CNBC, Facebook alleged Furlow-Smiles’ crimes also caused emotional distress among those employees closest to her. Nike criticized her lack of accountability and remorse as incredibly disappointing.
Manipulating Company Resources
As the leader of DEI programs at Facebook from January 2017 to September 2021, Furlow-Smiles was in charge of implementing and executing DEI operations and engagement programs. The Georgia native exploited her access to company credit cards and her power to approve vendor invoices to make illegitimate payments to various individuals, including her friends and family members, for goods and services not provided to Facebook.
The individuals caught up in the scheme—such as her former interns, her “university tutor,” a hairdresser, babysitters, and nannies—would then funnel kickbacks to Furlow-Smiles. Often, the money was returned to Furlow-Smiles as cash or account transfers and sometimes was wrapped in T-shirts or other items.
To keep her actions undercover, the disgraced DEI officer submitted counterfeit expense claims, alleging her associates had worked for Facebook, offering merchandise or marketing services.
Continuing Fraud at Nike
Upon dismissal from Facebook, Furlow-Smiles continued her fraudulent behavior at Nike. Agents doubted her invulnerability and stated she not only ruined a promising career but will also serve time behind bars for her extreme greed.
As DEI senior director at Nike, Furlow-Smiles was in charge of supporting initiatives, developing strategies, and running DEI events. Organizing a Juneteenth event in New York was one of her main responsibilities.
Furlow-Smiles continued her fraudulent methods for the Juneteenth celebration. She paid her associates with her Nike corporate card linked to her PayPal and Venmo accounts in return for kickbacks. She then filed a counterfeit expense report claiming the payments were connected to the Juneteenth event.
The Final Count
In total, Furlow-Smiles swindled more than $4.9 million from Facebook and an excess of $120,000 from Nike. The judge ordered that she reimburse the companies in full.
Her sentence includes five years and three months in prison and three years of supervised release afterwards. Facebook and Nike have yet to comment on the matter.
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