Ex-Facebook and Nike diversity manager gets 5 years in jail over $5m fraud scheme: Lawyer says she ‘got caught up’ in Facebook’s ‘move fast and break things’ culture
A former diversity and inclusion manager at Facebook and Nike has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison for stealing more than $5 million from the tech giant to “fund a luxury lifestyle”.
Barbara Furlow-Smiles, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud in the case in December, stole more than $4.9 million that had been earmarked for DEI initiatives from Facebook after apparently getting “caught up” in the company’s “move fast and break things” culture.
PDF: Ex-Facebook and Nike diversity manager gets 5 years in jail over $5m fraud scheme _ Fortune >
Summary:
The article reports that Barbara Furlow-Smiles, a former diversity and inclusion manager at Facebook and Nike, has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison for stealing more than $5 million from the companies to fund a lavish lifestyle. Key points:
- Furlow-Smiles stole over $4.9 million from Facebook between 2017 and 2021, and a six-figure sum from Nike until 2023.
- She used her position and authority to create fake invoices from vendors who were her family and friends, and then directed them to send her a portion of the money they received from Facebook.
- Furlow-Smiles also misled Facebook into paying for personal goods and services, such as portraits and preschool tuition.
- In a letter to the judge, she admitted her wrongdoing and acknowledged that her actions undermined DEI efforts.
- Furlow-Smiles’ attorney argued that she got caught up in Facebook’s “move fast and break things” culture and that others were also exploiting the company’s expenses for personal gain.
- In addition to her prison sentence, Furlow-Smiles has been ordered to return the stolen funds, including over $121,000 to Nike.
