Barbara Furlow-Smiles, formerly head of diversity programs at Facebook and Nike, has been sentenced to more than 5 years in prison for an elaborate fraud scheme that diverted more than $5 million from both companies.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia, United States, reported the sentence that includes five years and three months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, she was ordered to pay restitution of more than $5 million, distributed between Facebook and Nike.
During her time at Facebook, Furlow-Smiles held a position of influence that allowed her to access corporate credit cards and approve payments to suppliers.
However, she used this power to perpetrate the fraud on her. She linked personal PayPal, Venmo and Cash App accounts to company cards, paying associates for non-existent services. These associates later returned much of the money to Furlow-Smiles, covering up her fraudulent actions.
After her move to Facebook, Furlow-Smiles continued her fraudulent scheme at Nike. As Senior Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, she diverted funds using similar methods. By linking her corporate card to personal accounts, she paid associates, who then returned some of the money.
She submitted fraudulent expense reports to justify the payments, falsely claiming they were related to corporate events.
In total, Furlow-Smiles diverted more than $4.9 million from Facebook and more than $120,000 from Nike. This money funded a lavish lifestyle in several US states, including California, Georgia and Oregon. Her elaborate scheme involved a network of associates, including friends, family and acquaintances, who facilitated the diversion of funds.
Furlow-Smiles' sentencing came after her guilty plea to wire fraud in December 2023. Her case highlights the importance of business surveillance and financial security measures to prevent this type of fraudulent conduct that negatively impacts businesses.