Ex-Facebook DEI Manager Stole More Than $4 Million in ‘Elaborate’ Criminal Scheme

A former DEI executive at Facebook abused her position to devise an elaborate scheme of fake vendors and fraudulent invoices to steal millions of dollars.

In this illustration photo taken in Los Angeles on Oct. 28, 2021, a person watches on a smartphone Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveil the META logo. Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images

A former diversity manager at Facebook has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $4 million from the company in what the Justice Department says was an elaborate scheme involving fake vendors and cash kickbacks.

Barbara Furlow-Smiles, who led Facebook’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs for years, has pleaded guilty to defrauding the company of more than $4 million using fictitious charges and fraudulent invoices, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).