{"id":2124396,"date":"2023-12-13T19:02:02","date_gmt":"2023-12-14T00:02:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-facebook-diversity-manager-pleads-guilty-to-stealing-more-than-4-million-from-company\/"},"modified":"2023-12-13T19:08:41","modified_gmt":"2023-12-14T00:08:41","slug":"former-facebook-diversity-manager-pleads-guilty-to-stealing-more-than-4-million-from-company","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-facebook-diversity-manager-pleads-guilty-to-stealing-more-than-4-million-from-company\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Facebook Diversity Manager Admits to Stealing $4M"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fformer-facebook-diversity-manager-pleads-guilty-to-stealing-more-than-4-million-from-company%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2124396&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Former\u200c Facebook\u2062 Diversity Strategist Pleads Guilty to Stealing \u2062$4 Million in Elaborate Scheme<\/h2>\n<p>A former Facebook global diversity strategist has admitted to stealing over $4 million from the company through a\u200c complex and \u200ddeceptive plan involving fake vendors, fabricated charges, and secret kickbacks, according \u200cto federal prosecutors.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara Furlow-Smiles, \u206438, has pleaded \u200bguilty to wire fraud in connection with \u2064the scheme, as confirmed\u2062 by \u200dthe U.S. Attorney&#8217;s Office \u2063in Atlanta.<\/p>\n<h3>Leading \u200bFacebook&#8217;s\u200d Diversity, Equity,\u2064 and Inclusion Programs<\/h3>\n<p>Furlow-Smiles held a prominent role at Facebook\u2064 from January 2017 to September 2021, spearheading the\u200b company&#8217;s\u2062 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion \u2062(DEI) programs.\u200b As the lead strategist and\u200c global head of employee\u2063 resource groups and diversity\u200b engagement, she was responsible for developing and implementing initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion within the organization.<\/p>\n<p>Exploiting Her Position of Trust<\/p>\n<p>With \u2064access \u200cto <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/government-contractors-charged-with-making-illegal-donations-to-pro-susan-collins-super-pac\/\" title=\"Government Contractors Charged With Making Illegal Donations To Pro-Susan Collins Super PAC\">company credit cards<\/a> and the authority \u2064to approve invoices, Furlow-Smiles took advantage of her position to deceive and defraud\u2063 Facebook, prosecutors revealed.<\/p>\n<p>Using PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App \u2063accounts linked to her Facebook credit cards, she made payments\u200c to \u2062friends, relatives, and\u2062 others\u200d for\u200c goods and services that were never provided to \u2063the company. To conceal these transactions, she submitted fraudulent expense reports, falsely claiming that her acquaintances had performed work \u200bfor\u2062 Facebook, such as marketing \u200dor providing \u2062merchandise.<\/p>\n<p>An Elaborate\u2062 Network of Collusion<\/p>\n<p>According to prosecutors, Furlow-Smiles orchestrated an intricate web of \u2064collusion to receive kickbacks. She instructed her friends to\u2064 pay each \u200dother, sometimes using \u2063accounts in her husband&#8217;s and other individuals&#8217; names, to further conceal \u2064the scheme. Cash\u2064 payments\u200c were made in person or through the mail, with one instance involving hiding money in \u200ca t-shirt. Additionally,\u200b Furlow-Smiles\u2063 had\u2063 Facebook hire \u200cvendors operated by\u200d her friends, approving inflated invoices that allowed the vendors to pay \u200dher kickbacks.<\/p>\n<p>Individuals\u2063 Involved in\u200d the Scheme<\/p>\n<p>The individuals implicated \u200din the scheme included\u2062 friends, relatives, former interns, nannies, babysitters, \u200da hair stylist, and\u2064 even her university tutor. Prosecutors also\u200c revealed that \u2064Furlow-Smiles had Facebook cover various expenses for\u2064 others, including specialty\u200b portraits \u2063and preschool tuition.<\/p>\n<p>A Lavish Lifestyle Funded by Fraud<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;She used the money to\u2062 live a luxury lifestyle\u2064 in California and Georgia,&#8221; prosecutors stated.<\/p>\n<p>Sentencing and Ongoing Investigation<\/p>\n<p>Furlow-Smiles is scheduled to be \u2062sentenced on March 19. It remains uncertain whether the other individuals involved will face\u200d charges, as most of them\u2064 were reportedly unaware that\u2062 the funds originated from Facebook. The FBI \u200bis currently investigating the case, with cooperation from Meta, Facebook&#8217;s parent company.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. Attorney \u2063Ryan Buchanan condemned\u2063 Furlow-Smiles&#8217; actions, emphasizing the betrayal of her\u2063 DEI mission and the \u200bpursuit \u2064of personal\u2062 gain\u200d over honest work. &#8220;Motivated by greed, she \u2062used her time to orchestrate an elaborate\u200d criminal scheme in which\u2062 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-facebook-employee-pleads-guilty-to-stealing-4m-from-the-company\/\" title=\"Ex-Facebook worker admits to stealing M\">fraudulent vendors paid<\/a> her \u200ckickbacks in cash. She \u2064even involved relatives, friends,\u2063 and\u2064 other associates in her crimes, all to fund a lavish lifestyle through fraud rather than hard and \u2063honest work,&#8221; Buchanan stated.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How can consulting \u2062services improve\u200d internal controls and\u2062 oversight measures within a company like \u2063Facebook?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  \u2064Consulting services, marketing campaigns, and event planning.<\/p>\n<p>Fabricating Evidence to Cover Her Tracks<\/p>\n<p>To further conceal her illicit activities, Furlow-Smiles went to great lengths to fabricate evidence of these transactions. She created fictitious \u2063vendor identities,\u2063 complete with false\u2062 names, addresses, \u2064and contact \u200cinformation. These vendors were then listed on the fraudulent invoices submitted to Facebook, making it\u2062 appear as\u200c though \u200dlegitimate transactions had \u200ctaken\u2064 place.<\/p>\n<p>In reality, the money\u200b she funneled to these fake vendors \u200dwas ultimately returned to her \u200cthrough secret kickback arrangements. Some of the payments were made directly to \u200cher personal accounts, while others were funneled through accounts belonging to her relatives and associates.<\/p>\n<h3>Uncovering \u2063the Elaborate Scheme<\/h3>\n<p>Facebook&#8217;s internal audit team\u2064 initially detected irregularities in the \u2064company&#8217;s expense reports and alerted law\u200b enforcement authorities. The subsequent investigation\u200b revealed \u200cthe extent of Furlow-Smiles&#8217; deceitful actions\u200b and the substantial amount of money she had\u200d stolen\u200b over the \u2064course of several years.<\/p>\n<p>Federal \u200bprosecutors presented evidence demonstrating how Furlow-Smiles manipulated the\u200c company&#8217;s\u2064 financial systems, exploited \u2062her role, and meticulously covered her tracks to avoid detection. They also\u200d highlighted the\u2063 significant breach of\u200c trust she committed as a senior employee entrusted with \u2062the company&#8217;s \u2063diversity \u2064programs and resources.<\/p>\n<h3>Pleading Guilty and Facing Consequences<\/h3>\n<p>In November 2021, after her indictment, Furlow-Smiles pleaded \u2062guilty to one count of wire fraud, acknowledging her role in the elaborate \u2064scheme to embezzle funds\u200c from Facebook. As part of her\u2062 plea agreement, she has agreed to repay the stolen amount, totaling over $4 million.<\/p>\n<p>Furlow-Smiles now faces a maximum \u2064sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to \u2063$250,000. Her sentencing is scheduled for\u200b early 2022, \u2062where the court will decide the appropriate\u2062 punishment for her crimes.<\/p>\n<h3>Implications for \u200dFacebook and the Tech \u2062Industry<\/h3>\n<p>This \u200d<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/blm-activist-ruined-white-students-life-with-bogus-allegation-she-threatened-to-kill-protesters\/\" title=\"BLM Activist Ruined White Student\u2019s Life With Bogus Allegation She Threatened to Kill Protesters\">case raises questions<\/a> about the effectiveness of internal controls and oversight measures within a company\u200c as large and influential as Facebook. It highlights the importance of robust internal auditing and\u2062 monitoring\u2062 systems \u200bto detect and\u200d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/alabama-rolls-out-new-voter-roll-verification-system-cans-democrat-supported-system\/\" title=\"Alabama introduces new voter roll verification system, replaces Democrat-backed system.\">prevent fraudulent activities<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, this incident significantly damages Facebook&#8217;s reputation, particularly in the area \u2062of diversity and inclusion. The fact that\u2062 such \u2063dishonesty and abuse \u200bof power could occur within \u2062its\u200c own\u2062 diversity programs\u200b is deeply concerning. Facebook will need to\u200b take swift \u200band decisive action to restore\u200d trust and\u200d demonstrate\u2064 its commitment to ethical practices and transparency.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, this \u200dcase serves as a \u2064warning to companies across the \u200dtech industry about the potential vulnerability to internal fraud and the critical need for\u2062 strong safeguards\u2064 to protect company assets and uphold their values.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A former Facebook diversity strategist admitted guilt in stealing over $4 million from the company. Federal prosecutors revealed that Barbara Furlow-Smiles, 38, employed a complex scheme involving fake vendors, fabricated charges, and cash kickbacks. Furlow-Smiles, who led the scheme, pleaded guilty to wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney&#8217;s Office in Atlanta<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":107,"featured_media":2124397,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[541],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2124396","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-daily-wire"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2124396","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/107"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2124396"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2124396\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2124397"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2124396"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2124396"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2124396"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}