By the way, The New York Times, despite its keen interest in “diversity,” has not mentioned this
ATLANTA – Barbara Furlow-Smiles, a former diversity program manager at Facebook and Nike, has been sentenced for stealing more than $5 million based on an elaborate scheme involving fraudulent vendors, fictitious paperwork, and cash kickbacks.
“Furlow-Smiles shamelessly violated her position of trust as a DEI executive at Facebook to steal millions from the company utilizing a scheme involving fraudulent vendors, fake invoices, and cash kickbacks,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “After being terminated from Facebook, she brazenly continued the fraud as a DEI leader at Nike, where she stole another six-figure sum from their diversity program. Her prison sentence reflects the consequences of her decision to orchestrate an intricate scheme to defraud two of her employers for personal profit.”
— DOJ Press Release
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May 13, 2024
Barbara Furlow-Smiles, 38, a former leader of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs for Facebook and Nike, was sentenced Monday to more than five years in prison after pleading guilty in December to stealing more than $5 million from her ex-employers.
Furlow-Smiles sat stoically as U.S. District Court Judge Steven Grimberg handed down the sentence. He also ordered her to pay back everything she stole over the six years she ran her schemes, down to the cent — $5,102,838.08.
Before sentencing, Furlow-Smiles addressed the court through tears: “Today, I stand here for the fight of my life.”
Continued here.