Ex-diversity manager at Facebook jailed for five years after orchestrating fake events to steal more than $5m

Facebook’s former diversity manager has been jailed to five years in prison after being accused of orchestrating fake events to steal more than $5million (£3.94million).

Barbara Furlow-Smiles, 38, who also previously worked at Nike, was sentenced on Monday and ordered to hand back the cash.

She set up fake business deals, invoices and events, the Justice Department has claimed.

US Attorney Ryan K Buchanan said: “Furlow-Smiles shamelessly violated her position of trust as a DEI executive at Facebook to steal millions from the company utilising a scheme involving fraudulent vendors, fake invoices, and cash kickbacks.

“After 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.”

Furlow-Smiles, who “led diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at Facebook” from January 2017 to September 2021, pleaded guilty in December to the wire fraud scheme.

She was subsequently sentenced to five years and three months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

Facebook claimed the 38-year-old’s crimes “resulted in anguish amongst those employees that worked closely with her”.

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She also showed a “complete lack of accountability or remorse was incredibly disappointing” during her stint at Nike.

Furlow-Smiles used her access to company credit cards and her power to “approve invoices for authorised vendors to pay numerous individuals”.

Recipients included her friends and relatives “for goods and services that in truth were never provided to Facebook”.

Keri Farley, special agent in charge of FBI Atlanta, described how Farlow-Smiles continued her work after being sacked.

She said: “[Furlow-Smiles] “carelessly continued her fraudulent schemes at Nike, thinking she was untouchable.

“As a result, she not only threw away a lucrative career but will serve time behind bars for her excessive greed.”

Furlow-Smiles pocketed more than $4.9million from Facebook and over $120,000 from Nike.

The judge ordered the 38-year-old to pay back the companies.