ATLANTA — A now-former Facebook executive from Atlanta pleaded guilty to defrauding the company out of more than $4 million, the U.S. Attorney's Office said this week.
According to the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, Barbara Furlow-Smiles was a global diversity executive with Facebook who stole millions "utilizing an elaborate scheme involving fraudulent vendors, fictitious charges, and cash kickbacks."
Furlow-Smiles, 38, held the position of Lead Strategist, Global Head of Employee Resource Groups and Diversity Engagement at Facebook, Inc. - now Meta - from 2017-2021. In her role, she had access to company credit cards and purchasing authority that, according to U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan, she abused by paying "numerous individuals for goods and services never provided to the company."
In return, she received kickbacks, often in the form of cash.
The kickbacks apparatus that Furlow-Smiles developed was elaborate, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
"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," a release stated. "... 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."
Furlow-Smiles additionally helped vendors owned and operated by friends and other associates gain contracts with Facebook. Once they had a contract, she would approve purchases and inflate the invoice - after which, the vendors would return some of the money to her as a kickback.
The U.S. Attorney's Office said Furlow-Smiles recruited everyone from friends and relatives to former interns, hair stylists, babysitters and her university tutor for kickback arrangements.
"In total, Furlow-Smiles stole more than $4 million from Facebook based on fictitious charges and fraudulent invoices for which goods and services were never provided to the company. She used the money to live a luxury lifestyle in California and Georgia," the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
A sentencing for the Atlanta woman is scheduled for March 19, 2024.