Facebook's ex-diversity manager pleads guilty to taking $4 million from company in kickback scheme: feds | louder.news

A former director of Facebook's diversity program pleaded guilty to defrauding the social media giant of more than $4 million through a scheme in which he falsified business deals in exchange for kickbacks, the Department said of Justice

Barbara Furlow-Smiles, who served as chief 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 January 2017 to approximately September 2021, Furlow-Smiles led the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs at Facebook and was responsible for the development and execution of DEI initiatives, operations and engagement programs.” , according to the DOJ.

The feds said Furlow-Smiles, who had access to the company's credit cards and the ability to approve invoices as part of her role at the company, “caused Facebook to pay numerous people,” including his friends and family, “for goods and services ever. provided to the company.”