What Did Barbara Furlow Smiles Do? Who is Barbara Furlow Smiles?
by Swetha P
Updated Dec 15, 2023
What Did Barbara Furlow Smiles Do?
Barbara Furlow Smiles, a former Facebook global diversity executive, pleaded guilty to wire fraud, admitting to stealing over $4 million from the company. Furlow Smiles orchestrated an elaborate kickback scheme where she used Facebook credit cards to pay family, friends, and associates for services they never provided to the company.
To cover her tracks, she submitted fraudulent expense reports claiming these individuals worked on company programs and events. The money sent to them would then be returned to Furlow Smiles as kickbacks, either in cash or through various bank accounts.
Additionally, she coerced the company into onboarding vendors owned by her associates, creating inflated and false invoices. Upon payment of these fake invoices, Furlow Smiles received a share of the proceeds. The stolen funds were used to finance a lavish lifestyle, including payments for personal services such as hairstylists and babysitters, as well as non-kickback expenses like specialty portraits and preschool tuition.
Furlow Smiles abused her position as a diversity executive to defraud the company, involving relatives, friends, and associates in her criminal activities. She is currently free on bail and is set to be sentenced on March 19, 2024.
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Who is Barbara Furlow Smiles?
Barbara Furlow Smiles, a former executive at Facebook. Barbara Furlow Smiles held the position of Lead Strategist and Global Head of Employee Resource Groups and Diversity Engagement at Facebook, now known as Meta Platforms, from 2017 to 2021. In her role, she was responsible for executing initiatives under the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) program.
Unfortunately, Furlow Smiles abused her trusted position, using company credit cards and her authority to approve invoices to orchestrate a complex fraud scheme. Her fraudulent activities included linking online payment accounts to Facebook credit cards, making payments for nonexistent services, and submitting false expense reports.
Furlow Smiles not only stole millions through kickbacks but also manipulated the company's vendor onboarding process to benefit her associates. Facebook, now Meta, is cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation. Furlow Smiles is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to wire fraud.
What Did Barbara Furlow Smiles Do? - FAQs
Yes, she pleaded guilty to wire fraud after being accused of stealing over $4 million from Facebook.
She was a global diversity strategist overseeing Employee Resource Groups and Diversity Engagement programs.
Her sentencing is set for March 19, 2024.
She orchestrated a kickback scheme, using company credit cards to pay for non-existent services and receiving kickbacks from associates.
Her actions eroded trust and raised concerns about the integrity of the workplace, affecting the company's culture.