Posted on 05/16/2024 11:19:09 PM PDT by Libloather
The ex-diversity program manager for Facebook and Nike who stole more than $5 million from the mega companies to fund her “luxury lifestyle” was sentenced Monday to five years behind bars — and ordered to pay back the hefty sum.
Barbara Furlow-Smiles, 38, set up fake business deals, invoices and events — including a Juneteenth celebration — to line her own pockets, the Justice Department said.
“Furlow-Smiles shamelessly violated her position of trust as a DEI executive at Facebook to steal millions from the company utilizing a scheme involving fraudulent vendors, fake invoices, and cash kickbacks,” said US Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said in a statement.
“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 pleaded guilty in December to the wire fraud scheme, which saw her take more than $4.9 million from Facebook before bilking another six-figure sum from Nike “to fund a luxury lifestyle in California, Georgia, and Oregon,” the DOJ said.
The social media company claimed her “crimes also resulted in anguish amongst those employees that worked closely with her,” while Nike slammed her “complete lack of accountability or remorse was incredibly disappointing,” according to sentencing memos obtained by CNBC.
From approximately January 2017 to September 2021, the Georgia native “led diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at Facebook and was responsible for developing and executing DEI initiatives, operations, and engagement programs,” prosecutors said.
She used her access to company credit cards and her power to approve invoices for authorized vendors to pay numerous individuals,” including her friends and relatives, “for goods and services that in truth were never provided to Facebook.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Is it time to limit the access women have to power?
Fox Business reported, while embezzling some $5M, DOJ confimed “Barbara Furlow-Smiles:
<><>served as Facebook’s lead strategist,
<><>was Facebook’s global head of employee resource groups
<><>and global head of Facebook’s diversity engagement.
For the full story, click her #linkinbio or visit Volume82.com.
As Facebook’s DEI exec, Furlow Smiles violated her position
of trust to steal millions utilizing schemes involving
<><>fraudulent vendors,
<><>fake invoices,
<><>and cash kickbacks.
US Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said, “After being terminated from Facebook, she brazenly continued the fraud as a DEI leader at Nike, where she stole another six-figure sum from Nike’s diversity program.”
[Ex-diversity boss at Facebook, Nike who orchestrated fake events to steal $5M gets five years]
Nike: Believe in something; Even if it costs you everything.
Nike: Just do it.
From approximately January 2017 to September 2021, the criminal mind of the Georgia native
<><>led diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at Facebook
<><>and developed and executed DEI initiatives, operations, and engagement programs
<><>as schemes to steal millions.
She criminally used her access to company credit cards and her power to approve invoices for authorized vendors to pay numerous individuals, including her accomplices crime in.....friends and relatives.......to create falsified goods and services that were wholly invented, and were never provided to Facebook.
Their slogan is a crock......but do they know it after
being double-crossed by their own hired DEI criminal?
Hope the dancers were choreographed by Paula Abdul.
I guess I got it slightly off but I think it’s accurate in that theme.
There is a severe amount of stupidity in corporate America these days. Frankly since 2008.
Throwing out conventional wisdom, getting rid of experienced workers, adopting idiocy as priorities.
Witness Target and ........ Bud Light.
Seems similar to how Fani Willis operates in Fulton county.
Good catch....kudos.
Only 5 years in jail for stealing a total of $6 million from 2 companies? A Christian woman got that long for praying in an abortion clinic.
Barbara Furlow-Smiles, used DEI as a pretext to steal millions.
She co-opted employers and co-workers....putting on an act, like she was tolerant and compassionate.
She was actually a criminal, setting up fake business deals, invoices and events — including a Juneteenth celebration of slavery.
She was scarfing up money, lining her own pockets, posing as a do-gooder.
It was a great scam....right up until she got nailed.
$5 million? That’s quite a felony right there.
If they havent already, they should can the one who was stupid enough to hire a criminal.
Probably a whole group of idiots.
Probably.
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