Former Facebook diversity manager pleads guilty to stealing $4m to fund lifestyle

A former Facebook diversity and inclusion tsar has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $4m (£3.1m) from the tech giant to fund her lavish lifestyle.

Barbara Furlow-Smiles, a global diversity executive at Facebook between 2017 and 2021, syphoned off cash through an “elaborate scheme” involving fake suppliers and cash kickbacks, US prosecutors said.

The Atlanta resident was “motivated by greed”, US Attorney Ryan Buchanan said, “ignoring the insidious consequences of undermining the importance of her DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] mission”.

Ms Furlow-Smiles, 38, was employed as “lead strategist, global head of employee resource groups and diversity engagement” at Facebook, which has since rebranded as Meta.

Using her access to a company credit card and authority to approve invoices, Ms Furlow-Smiles paid friends and family for phoney goods and services, submitting fraudulent expense reports for “swag” or marketing events.

Most of those involved, including nannies, babysitters, a hair stylist and former interns, did not know the origin of the payments.

They would later return most of the money in cash to her, sending it by mail or in some cases wrapped in T-shirts.

Ms Furlow-Smiles also hired suppliers operated by her friends who charged fraudulently inflated prices and paid her cash kickbacks.

She also used company cash to directly fund her lifestyle, spending $10,000 on an artist for bespoke portraits and $18,000 on pre-school tutors.

Keri Farley, special agent in charge of FBI Atlanta, said: “Furlow-Smiles used lies and deceit to defraud both vendors and Facebook employees. The FBI works hard to make sure greed like this doesn’t pay off and those who commit fraud are held accountable.”

US prosecutors said Meta provided assistance and cooperation throughout the investigation.

A Meta spokesman said: “We are cooperating with law enforcement on the case regarding this former program manager, and we will continue to do so.”

Ms Furlow-Smiles will be sentenced in March.

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