A shocking case of corporate fraud has recently come to light involving a former diversity manager at Facebook and Nike. Barbara Furlow-Smiles, a Georgia resident, was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for stealing over $5 million from these companies that had been allocated for DEI initiatives. Furlow-Smiles, who was once a lead strategist and global head of employee resource groups and diversity engagement at Facebook, used fraudulent vendors, fake invoices, and cash kickbacks to embezzle more than $4.9 million from the social media giant, while maintaining a luxury lifestyle in multiple states.
After being terminated from Facebook, Furlow-Smiles shamelessly carried out the same fraudulent activities at Nike, where she served as a senior director of diversity, equity & inclusion. She replicated her scheme by creating false transactions and pocketing another six-figure sum from the company’s diversity program. Prosecutors revealed that she linked her personal financial accounts to her Facebook credit cards, using them to transfer money to her acquaintances under the guise of business transactions that were never fulfilled. The majority of the illicit funds ended up back in her possession.
The ramifications of Furlow-Smiles’ actions were not just financial. She manipulated individuals, including former interns who viewed her as a mentor, to carry out her deceptive ploys. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, suffered significant losses due to her elaborate scheme, including more than $4.5 million in addition to substantial legal fees incurred during the investigation. The betrayal felt by those who worked closely with Furlow-Smiles at both Facebook and Nike cannot be understated, as her disregard for trust and accountability devastated the employees who once relied on her guidance.
Following a guilty plea to wire fraud, Furlow-Smiles was ordered to pay restitution of nearly $5 million to Facebook and an additional $121,000 to Nike. Her lack of remorse and accountability, as highlighted by prosecutors, only adds to the gravity of her offenses. The court’s decision to sentence her to prison underscores the seriousness of corporate fraud and the lasting impact it can have on both companies and their employees.
The case of Barbara Furlow-Smiles serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked greed and deceit within corporate environments. Her actions not only resulted in substantial financial losses for Facebook and Nike but also eroded the trust and relationships that are essential for a healthy work culture. It is imperative for companies to implement robust internal controls and oversight to prevent similar incidents of fraud in the future. The importance of ethical behavior and accountability in the workplace cannot be overstated, as demonstrated by the damaging consequences of Furlow-Smiles’ criminal conduct.
Leave a Reply