{"id":2247481,"date":"2024-05-18T12:30:01","date_gmt":"2024-05-18T16:30:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/facebooks-former-diversity-chief-sentenced-to-prison-for-multimillion-dollar-scam\/"},"modified":"2024-05-18T12:32:44","modified_gmt":"2024-05-18T16:32:44","slug":"facebooks-former-diversity-chief-sentenced-to-prison-for-multimillion-dollar-scam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/facebooks-former-diversity-chief-sentenced-to-prison-for-multimillion-dollar-scam\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Facebook Diversity Chief Receives Prison Sentence for Multi-Million Dollar Fraud"},"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\">22<\/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%2Ffacebooks-former-diversity-chief-sentenced-to-prison-for-multimillion-dollar-scam%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=2247481&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--><p>Former Facebook and Nike <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/seattle-public-school-diversity-employees-are-among-highest-paid-in-system\/\" title=\"Seattle Public School \"Diversity Employees\" Are Among Highest Paid in System\">diversity manager<\/a>, Barbara Furlow-Smiles, sentenced to over\u2062 five years in prison for a\u2062 $5 million fraud scheme\u200c involving\u2063 kickbacks.\u200b She must repay millions and serve supervised release. Furlow-Smiles manipulated vendors, faked invoices, and misused funds for personal gain, violating trust and defrauding employers. She orchestrated\u200b an elaborate scam,\u200b betraying her position and facing the consequences of her actions.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/news\/\">  News <\/a>   <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/russdavis\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/russdavis\/%20\"><span>Jack Davis<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   May 18, 2024 at 7:43am <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>A former diversity manager at Facebook and Nike was sentenced to prison on Monday after a $5 million kickback and fraud scheme fell apart.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara Furlow-Smiles, 38, of Marietta, Georgia, will serve five years and three months in prison, after which she will have three years of supervised release, according to a Department of Justice <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-ndga\/pr\/former-diversity-program-manager-facebook-and-nike-sentenced-federal-prison-5-million\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news release.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ex-facebook-dei-exec-charged-stealing-4m-social-media-giant-elaborate-plot\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Furlow-Smiles<\/a> also has to cough up almost $5 million to Facebook and over $120,000 to Nike after her conviction on a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/michael-avenatti-found-guilty-of-defrauding-stormy-daniels\/\" title=\"Michael Avenatti Found Guilty of Defrauding Stormy Daniels\">wire fraud charge<\/a> in December, to which she pleaded guilty.<\/p>\n<p>That amounts to what Furlow-Smiles took from Facebook and Nike \u201cto fund a luxury lifestyle in California, Georgia, and Oregon,\u201d the release said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFurlow-Smiles shamelessly violated her position of trust as a DEI executive at Facebook to steal millions from the company utilizing a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/excessive-greed-former-facebook-dei-manager-sentenced-to-prison-for-stealing-5-million\/\" title=\"Former Facebook Diversity Manager Jailed for Stealing  Million\">scheme involving fraudulent vendors<\/a>, fake invoices, and cash kickbacks,\u201d U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAfter being terminated from Facebook, she brazenly continued the fraud as a DEI leader at Nike, where she stole another six-figure sum from their diversity program,\u201d he continued. \u201cHer prison sentence reflects the consequences of her decision to orchestrate an intricate scheme to defraud two of her employers for personal profit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Furlow-Smiles led diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at Facebook from January 2017 to September 2021. She used her job to have Facebook pay multiple people and businesses for goods or services that were never provided, and then give her a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/dem-sen-bob-menendez-showed-off-money-filled-safe-nude-lover-15-years-fbi-gold-bars-raid-according-dossier\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">share of the cash<\/a>, the release said.<\/p>\n<p>Furlow-Smiles submitted fraudulent expense reports, claiming that those in on the scheme worked on programs and events even when they had not.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAfter these individuals received the payments from Facebook, they returned the vast majority of the money to Furlow-Smiles,\u201d the release said, noting she was repaid in cash that was sometimes wrapped in other objects such as T-shirts.<\/p>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\">\n<p>Is the DEI industry a scam?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Furlow-Smiles also led Facebook to onboard several vendors that were operated by friends, who then offered her kickbacks. Furlow-Smiles greenlit fraudulent invoices for these vendors, and after Facebook paid the invoices, she told the vendors to send back a share of the funds to her.<\/p>\n<p>Those involved in the scheme were \u201cfriends, relatives, former interns from a prior job, nannies and babysitters, a hair stylist, and her university tutor,\u201d the release said.<\/p>\n<p>She also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/nurse-practitioner-sentenced-192-million-medicare-fraud-scheme-funded-extravagant-lifestyle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">spent money on herself<\/a>, the document added, including nearly $10,000 to an artist for portraits and more than $18,000 for preschool tuition.<\/p>\n<p>Furlow-Smiles was fired from Facebook but received a new position at Nike, where she worked in a similar role from November 2021 to February 2023 and operated the same scheme, the release said.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">DEI is a massive grift. Barbara Furlow-Smiles, who ran DEI programs for Facebook and Nike has been sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay back $5 million she used to fund a \u201cluxury lifestyle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFurlow-Smiles shamelessly violated her position of trust as a DEI\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Cb0AeTKZkO\">pic.twitter.com\/Cb0AeTKZkO<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/stillgray\/status\/1791305155201364252?\">May 17, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>A sentencing memo said Facebook learned that Furlow-Smiles started the scheme soon after she was initially hired, and that an investigation found she had \u201cmanipulated individuals who were close to, and trusted her, including former interns\u201d who saw her as a mentor, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2024\/05\/16\/facebook-nike-furlow-smile-prison-fraud.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CNBC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Nike also informed prosecutors that her \u201ccomplete lack of accountability or remorse was incredibly disappointing,\u201d the memo noted.<\/p>\n<p>Phillip Hamilton, a lawyer representing Furlow-Smiles, said his client does not <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/media-reactions-to-bombshell-durham-report-liberals-just-have-no-idea-about-any-of-this\/\" title=\"Media Reactions To Bombshell Durham Report: Liberals \u2018Just Have No Idea About Any Of This\u2019\">deserve prison time<\/a>, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2024-05-17\/former-facebook-dei-head-gets-5-years-in-prison-for-fraud\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Los Angeles Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Hamilton said Furlow-Smiles was not the only one at Facebook to act in such a way, claiming her behavior was \u201cthe norm.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The attorney asserted she \u201cquickly learned that coworkers were friends with vendors and relied on these vendors to do certain things, which included providing kickbacks for referring Facebook business to them.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div>\n<p><b><i>An Important Message from Our Staff:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>In just a few months, the world is going to change forever. The 2024 election is the single most important election of our lifetime. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We here at The Western Journal are committed to covering it in a way the establishment media simply will not: We will tell the truth, and they will lie.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>But Big Tech and the elites don\u2019t want the truth out. That\u2019s why they have cut us off from 90% of advertisers. Imagine if someone cut your monthly income by 90%. That\u2019s what they\u2019ve done to people like us. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>As a staff, we are asking you to <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>join us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  to fight this once-in-a-lifetime fight. Without you not only will The Western Journal fail, but America will fail also. As Benjamin Franklin said, \u201cWe must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Will you support The Western Journal today and <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>become a member<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>A Western Journal <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Membership<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  costs less than one coffee and breakfast sandwich each month, and it gets you access to ALL of our content \u2014 news, commentary, and premium articles. You\u2019ll experience a radically reduced number of ads, and most importantly you will be vitally supporting the fight for America\u2019s soul in 2024.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>This is the time. America will live or die based on what happens this year. Please <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>join us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  to get the real truth out and to fight the elites, Big Tech, and the people who want America to fail. Together, we really can save the country.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Thank you for your support!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>P.S. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Please stand with us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"author-info-44685\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/russdavis\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"summary-tab-radio-44685\">Summary<\/label><label for=\"more-info-tab-radio-44685\">More<span> Biographical Information<\/span><\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-44685\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-44685\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Jack Davis is a freelance writer who joined The Western Journal in July 2015 and chronicled the campaign that saw President Donald Trump elected. Since then, he has written extensively for The Western Journal on the Trump administration as well as foreign policy and military issues.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>  Jack Davis is a freelance writer who joined The Western Journal in July 2015 and chronicled the campaign that saw President Donald Trump elected. Since then, he has written extensively for The Western Journal on the Trump administration as well as foreign policy and military issues. <br \/> Jack can be reached at jackwritings1@gmail.com. <\/p>\n<p>  Location <\/p>\n<p>  New York City <\/p>\n<p>  Languages Spoken <\/p>\n<p>  English <\/p>\n<p>  Topics of Expertise <\/p>\n<p>  Politics, Foreign Policy, Military &#038; Defense Issues <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Former Facebook and Nike diversity manager, Barbara Furlow-Smiles, 38, from Marietta, Georgia, was sentenced to over five years in prison for a $5 million kickback and fraud scheme that unraveled. The sentence includes five years and three months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":661,"featured_media":2247482,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Furlow-Smiles.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2247481","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Furlow-Smiles.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2247481","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\/661"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2247481"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2247481\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2247482"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2247481"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2247481"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2247481"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}