A former diversity manager at Facebook and Nike, Barbara Furlow-Smiles, was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for stealing over $5 million from the companies’ diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. She pleaded guilty to wire fraud in December and used a scheme involving fake vendors, invoices, and cash kickbacks to steal from Facebook. After being terminated from Facebook, she continued the fraud at Nike, stealing another six-figure sum from their diversity program. Furlow-Smiles used the stolen money to fund a luxury lifestyle in California, Georgia, and Oregon.
While at Facebook, Furlow-Smiles linked PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App accounts to her credit cards and paid friends, relatives, and others for goods and services that were never delivered. The majority of the money was then kicked back to her. Prosecutors revealed that she started the scheme shortly after joining Facebook in 2017 and manipulated individuals close to her, including former interns. After her dismissal from Facebook, she worked at Nike as senior director of diversity, equity, and inclusion, where she executed a similar theft scheme. Prosecutors said Meta lost over $4.5 million in addition to other expenses due to Furlow-Smiles’ fraud.
Furlow-Smiles was sentenced in Atlanta federal court and ordered to pay nearly $5 million to Facebook and $121,000 to Nike in restitution. Meta cooperated with law enforcement in the investigation, and Furlow-Smiles must report to prison by July 22. Prosecutors emphasized that the financial losses from her crimes were not the only harm caused, as employees who worked closely with her suffered anguish. Nike expressed disappointment in her lack of accountability or remorse, stating that she violated their trust and devastated those who managed and worked with her. CNBC has requested comments from Furlow-Smiles’ lawyers, as well as spokespeople from Meta and Nike on her sentencing.
Overall, Barbara Furlow-Smiles, a former diversity manager at Facebook and Nike, was sentenced to over five years in prison for stealing more than $5 million from the companies’ diversity initiatives. She used fraudulent schemes involving fake vendors, invoices, and cash kickbacks to steal from Facebook and continued the fraud at Nike after being terminated. Furlow-Smiles funded a lavish lifestyle with the stolen money and linked various accounts to pay friends and relatives for goods and services that were never delivered. Meta suffered significant financial losses due to her fraud, and employees who trusted her experienced anguish.
Prosecutors highlighted that Furlow-Smiles manipulated individuals close to her, including former interns, at Facebook, where she was a lead strategist and head of employee resource groups and diversity engagement. After her dismissal, she joined Nike and carried out a similar theft scheme, violating the trust of employees and devastating those who worked with her. She was ordered to pay restitution to both companies and must report to prison by July 22. Meta assisted in the investigation, and Nike expressed disappointment in her lack of accountability and remorse. The financial losses from her crimes were substantial, but the emotional impact on employees was also significant.
In conclusion, Barbara Furlow-Smiles’ sentencing marks the end of a criminal case involving fraud and theft from Facebook and Nike’s diversity programs. Her actions not only caused financial harm to the companies but also resulted in emotional distress for employees who trusted her. As she begins her prison term, the restitution payments ordered by the court serve as a form of justice for the stolen funds. The case serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of committing fraud and the importance of accountability and trust in the workplace.
