An ex-Facebook diversity executive pleaded guilty Wednesday to stealing more than $4 million from the social media giant “to fund a lavish lifestyle” in California and Georgia, federal prosecutors say. Barbara Furlow-Smiles led various Facebook Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs from 2017 through mid-2021. According to the U.S. Attorney’s office in Atlanta, she stole the money “through an elaborate scheme.”
Among other things, prosecutors say that Furlow-Smiles caused Facebook to pay people for goods and services that were never actually provided to the company. In return, those individuals paid her kickbacks.
“These individuals included friends, relatives, former interns from a prior job, nannies and babysitters, a hair stylist, and her university tutor,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
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The office adds that 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. 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.
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Sentencing for Barbara Furlow-Smiles is scheduled for March 19, 2024, before US District Judge Steven D. Grimberg. The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The office reports that Meta provided valuable assistance and cooperation during the investigation.