Ex-Facebook worker admits to stealing $4M
OAN’s Abril Elfi
12:39 AM – Wednesday, December 13, 2023
A former Atlanta Facebook global diversity executive has admitted to stealing over $4 million from the company.
On Tuesday, Barbara Furlow-Smiles pleaded guilty to stealing millions from the tech company through cash kickbacks, made-up charges, and fake vendors.
The lawsuit was brought forth by United States Attorney Ryan K. Buchana who said Furlow-Smiles “abused a position of trust.”
“This defendant abused a position of a trust as a global diversity executive for Facebook to defraud the company of millions of dollars, ignoring the insidious consequences of undermining the importance of her DEI mission,” said Buchanan. “Motivated by greed, she used her time to orchestrate an elaborate criminal scheme in which fraudulent vendors paid her kickbacks in cash. She even involved relatives, friends, and other associates in her crimes, all to fund a lavish lifestyle through fraud rather than hard and honest work.”
Keri Farely, special agent in charge of FBI Atlanta, also agreed and said that Furlow-Smiles “used lies and deceit to defraud both vendors and Facebook employees.”
“The FBI works hard to make sure greed like this doesn’t pay off and those who commit fraud are held accountable,” she added.
According to the lawsuit, the defendant linked her Facebook (now Meta) credit cards to Paypal, Venmo and Cash App accounts and used them to pay her friends or associates for services that were not related to Facebook.
Reportedly, to cover her scheme, she would submit fake reports.
Furlow-Smiles also would have Facebook onboard vendors owned by friends and associates.
She instructed the vendors to return a portion of the money to her after approving the contracts and invoices.
Friends, relatives, past interns, nannies, babysitters, a hair stylist, and her university tutor were among the people who were enlisted. Furlow-Smiles, for instance, forced Facebook to pay a preschool tuition of more than $18,000 and an artist close to $10,000 for specialty portraits.
Furlow-Smiles stole over $4 million in total, which she used to support her opulent lifestyle in Georgia and California.
On March 19th, 2024, U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg will conduct the sentencing.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with significant support from Meta.
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What measures could have been implemented by Facebook to prevent and detect Furlow-Smiles’ fraudulent activities
Sentencing hearing for Furlow-Smiles. She faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, as well as fines and restitution.
The case of Barbara Furlow-Smiles, a former Atlanta Facebook global diversity executive, has shocked the tech industry and highlighted the need for tighter financial controls within companies. Furlow-Smiles admitted to stealing over $4 million from the social media giant through a sophisticated scheme involving cash kickbacks, fraudulent charges, and fake vendors.
United States Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan, who brought forth the lawsuit against Furlow-Smiles, stated that she “abused a position of trust” as a global diversity executive for Facebook. He emphasized the insidious consequences of her actions, noting that she undermined the importance of her mission to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Motivated by greed, Furlow-Smiles orchestrated an elaborate criminal scheme, involving fraudulent vendors who paid her kickbacks in cash. She even involved relatives, friends, and other associates to assist her in carrying out her crimes. This was all to fund her lavish lifestyle, rather than earning an honest living through hard work.
Keri Farely, the special agent in charge of FBI Atlanta, also condemned Furlow-Smiles’ actions. She stated that Furlow-Smiles used lies and deceit to defraud both vendors and Facebook employees. Farely reaffirmed the commitment of the FBI to hold those who commit fraud accountable, ensuring that greed does not pay off.
According to the lawsuit, Furlow-Smiles connected her Facebook (now Meta) credit cards to various payment platforms like Paypal, Venmo, and Cash App. She used these accounts to pay her friends and associates for services that were unrelated to Facebook. To cover her tracks, she submitted fake reports and also onboarded vendors owned by her friends and associates to legitimize her scheme.
Instructing the vendors to return a portion of the money to her after approving the contracts and invoices, Furlow-Smiles involved a wide network of people, including friends, relatives, past interns, nannies, babysitters, a hair stylist, and even her university tutor. Shockingly, she forced Facebook to pay for non-related expenses such as preschool tuition and specialty portraits.
Through her fraudulent activities, Furlow-Smiles managed to steal over $4 million. She used this money to support her luxurious lifestyle in both Georgia and California. However, her criminal actions have caught up with her, and she now faces serious consequences.
On March 19th, 2024, Furlow-Smiles will have her sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg. During this hearing, the court will determine the appropriate punishment for her crimes. Furlow-Smiles could face a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, as well as significant fines and restitution.
This case serves as a stark reminder that no one is exempt from the consequences of their actions, regardless of their position or the company they work for. It also highlights the importance of implementing robust internal controls and proper oversight to prevent and detect fraudulent activities. Companies must remain vigilant and ensure that their employees uphold the highest ethical standards to maintain trust and integrity.
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