Facebook's Former Head of DEI Pleads Guilty to Swindling the Company Out of $4 Million

Hotair ^ | 12/13/2023 | John Sexton

[SeekAndFind]

Here’s one case where no one can deny that corporate DEI was a scam. A former head of DEI programs for Facebook has pleaded guilty to swindling the company out of $4 million, not including whatever money they were spending on her actual salary.

Barbara Furlow-Smiles, who served as lead strategist and global head of employee resource groups and diversity engagement at Facebook, used the stolen funds to live an extravagant lifestyle that spanned from California to Georgia, prosecutors said.

From approximately January 2017 to September 2021, Furlow-Smiles led Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs at Facebook and was responsible for developing and executing DEI initiatives, operations, and engagement programs,” according to the DOJ.

According to a DOJ press release, Smiles actually had two different scams going. The first involved paying people she knew for fake work they hadn’t done. These friends would then deliver the bulk of that money back to her in cash.

First, Furlow-Smiles linked PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App accounts to her Facebook credit cards and used those accounts to pay friends, relatives, and other associates for goods and services purportedly provided to Facebook. But these individuals did not provide goods or services to the company. Most of them did not know that the payments came from Facebook. To conceal the bogus charges on her Facebook credit cards, Furlow-Smiles submitted fraudulent expense reports, falsely claiming that her associates or their businesses performed work on programs and events for Facebook, such as providing swag or marketing services when, in fact, they had not done so.

After these associates received payments from Facebook, they returned most of the money to Furlow-Smiles. They paid these kickbacks in cash and through transfers to accounts held in her husband’s and others’ names. Associates paid cash kickbacks in person and by Federal Express or mail, sometimes wrapping the cash in other items, such as T-shirts. To further conceal her actions, Furlow-Smiles also directed associates to pay one another, or others who she owed money.

The second scam was the more traditional one in which she directed actual work to friends and family but at inflated prices. Those people then paid her kickbacks for giving them the work.

Second, Furlow-Smiles caused Facebook to onboard several vendors that were owned and operated by friends and associates who also paid her kickbacks. After Facebook approved contracts for these vendors, Furlow-Smiles approved purchase requisitions for these purported vendors to work for Facebook. Furlow-Smiles then approved fraudulent and inflated invoices to pay the vendors. After Facebook paid the invoices, Furlow-Smiles directed the vendors to return a portion of the money to her.

Furlow-Smiles recruited numerous individuals to receive money and pay kickbacks as part of the scheme. These individuals included friends, relatives, former interns from a prior job, nannies and babysitters, a hair stylist, and her university tutor.

This couple lived quite the life. She and her husband launched a line of fancy face shields as a side hustle in early 2021. Those were promoted on The Breakfast Club radio show. There’s also a page on this site about their marriage renewal which was held in South Africa a few months later. The couple dressed in traditional Zulu costumes for the ceremony. They seemed to be living the dream. Just two months ago Furlow-Smiles announced a new children’s book based on travels through 18 different countries with her daughter:

Her latest endeavor, the children’s book “When Imani Smiles in France” was born from the experiences she and her husband, Ernest Smiles, gathered while traveling through more than 18 countries with their daughter, Imani. Witnessing Imani’s growth — her burgeoning independence, boundless curiosity, and an innate compassion during these voyages became a precious gift they wanted to share with the world.”…

“This book holds particular significance for Spelman College and the current generation as it embodies the inspiring journey of a Black woman, a proud Spelman alum, and her Black family exploring the world,” said Furlow-Smiles.”

But it turns out the image of this black power couple was built on, as an FBI agent involved in the case put it, “lies and deceit.” Furlow-Smiles’ sentencing is scheduled for March 2024.

Ex-Facebook diversity manager pleads guilty to bilking $4M from company in kickback scheme: feds


https://t.co/WM08dz1eXK pic.twitter.com/oI4BtFkzTS

— New York Post (@nypost) December 13, 2023

[xp38]

That’s mighty diverse of her.

[liberalh8ter]

This is the funniest thing I’ve read today.

[Paladin2]

DIE, baby, DIE....

Grifting is apparently now a major employment category.

[ArcadeQuarters]

> global head of employee resource groups and diversity engagement

You know it’s a BS position with a title like that. You can also assume she’s paid more than the people doing actual work.

[jimwatx]

Just diversifying her income stream I guess.

[popdonnelly]

Watch out who you hire.

[logi_cal869]

Damn skippy!

[MinorityRepublican]

If I have to hire a DEI position, I would make that person post pictures on the company’s social media and post articles. So that can be measurable. Instead of a free ride.

[Sicon]

Spoiler alert: EVERYONE who works in the “field” of “DEI” is a scammer and a fraud.

[nickcarraway]

How can they prosecute her for doing her job?

[Steely Tom]

I guess she grabbed some of that “equity.”

[Albion Wilde]

I thought, “I probably don’t need to look.”

But I looked.

Turns out, I didn’t need to look.

[jacknhoo]

Every DEI position is a swindle.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Facebook, fraud, DEI, and the high-life. What did you expect?

[rxh4n1]

“She and her husband launched a line of fancy face shields as a side hustle in early 2021”

Is that where SecDef Austin got his fancy face shield? Sorry, I don’t have the picture.

[DeplorablePaul]

I’m bet she justified stealing from whitey as reparations. She was just trying to decolonize Face Book.

[equaviator]

Give her an inch and she takes a mile. She and the millions just like her are self-entitled more than they’re entitled by any other means. The more they spend on their fingernails the more self-entitled they want to be. It’s as if entitlements go hand-in-hand with self-respect, and that a lack of self-entitlement brings with it a lack of self-esteem. It’s just plain greedy is all. Nothing is owed to her, not even her precious self-esteem. Is it even possible that she could be black-balled over it? I’ll bet it ends up being the exact opposite, and if she fails up it could not be without help because she would never be able to get there on her own merit.

[Liz]

She seemed to be living a dream. She and hubs renewed their marriage vows
in South Africa............ dressed in traditional Zulu costumes for the ceremony.

---

What? No pics?

[Liz]

She and hubs renewed their marriage vows dressed in traditional Zulu costumes

Musta been romantic.