Barbara Furlow-Smiles, a former Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion executive at Facebook, now Meta, and Nike, has been sentenced to five years and three months in federal prison for multiple counts of wire fraud and embezzlement. She has also been recommended for evaluation for participation in the RDAP (Residential Drug Abuse Program) by the Bureau of Prisons. The program is a voluntary substance abuse rehabilitation treatment that can reduce the sentences of non-violent offenders by up to one year after completion.
During Furlow-Smiles’ trial, it was revealed that she diverted funds intended for charitable donations into personal accounts, embezzling over $5 million in total from Facebook and Nike. She manipulated internal financial records and created fake invoices to cover her tracks, using the money to finance a lavish lifestyle and pay thousands in pre-school tuition fees. The scheme was uncovered after an internal audit raised red flags, leading to a thorough investigation by federal authorities.
U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan stated that Furlow-Smiles shamelessly violated her position of trust at Facebook to steal millions from the company through a scheme involving fraudulent vendors, fake invoices, and cash kickbacks. She pleaded guilty to stealing $4.9 million from Facebook and $121,000 from Nike. Her sentencing includes 63 months of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and restitution of $5,102,838.08 to both corporations, as well as a special assessment of $100. Her legal team has not indicated whether they plan to appeal the sentence.
Furlow-Smiles, who previously held a prominent position at Facebook within the tech giant’s corporate social responsibility division, is expected to begin serving her sentence immediately. The court documents recommended that she be incarcerated in or near Newburgh, Orange County, New York, and evaluated for participation in the RDAP program. The program is the Bureau of Prisons’ most intensive treatment program for substance abuse rehabilitation, taking 500 hours and nine to twelve months to complete.
In addition to her prison term, Furlow-Smiles has been ordered to pay restitution to both Nike and Facebook and serve three years of supervised release. The court documents also advised her of her appeal rights, with no objections raised by either party regarding the sentence. The case highlights the consequences of white-collar crime and the importance of accountability in corporate positions of trust.
