Facebook fraud | Former diversity manager admits stealing millions from the company to fund lavish lifestyle

Barbara Furlow-Smiles, a former Global Diversity Executive at Facebook, has pleaded guilty to orchestrating a sophisticated scheme that defrauded the social media giant of more than $4million (£3.1million).

Furlow-Smiles, 38, served as Lead Strategist, Global Head of Employee Resource Groups and Diversity Engagement at Facebook from January 2017 to September 2021.

According to lawyers from the US Attorney's Office in the Northern District of Georgia, Furlow-Smiles exploited her position of trust to cheat and defraud the company.

She allegedly used fraudulent invoices to charge Facebook for goods and services that were never provided, subsequently receiving kickbacks and funding a luxurious lifestyle in California and Georgia.