Former Diversity Program Manager Who Lived Luxurious Lifestyle Jailed For $5 Million Fraud
Leave a Comment / By Shay Bottomley / May 16, 2024
A former diversity program manager at Facebook and Nike has been jailed for stealing more than $5 million in a scheme involving fake vendors, made-up paperwork, and cash kickbacks.
Barbara Furlow-Smiles, 38, of Marietta, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg to five years and three months in prison, followed by three years’ supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $5,102,838.08 to the impacted companies, the bulk of which was to Facebook.
From January 2017 to September 2021, Furlow-Smiles led Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs at Facebook and was responsible for developing and executing DEI initiatives, operations and engagement programs. Her role at the company provided her access to company credit cards, and authority to submit purchase requisitions and approve invoices for authorized vendors of Facebook – a level of power she quickly abused.
https://wokespy.com/former-diversity-program-manager-who-lived-luxurious-lifestyle-jailed-for-5-million-fraud/
