Ex-Facebook Executive Pleads Guilty to Stealing $4 Million: Lavish Lifestyle Funded by Corporate Theft
A former Facebook employee has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $4 million from the social media giant to fund a lavish lifestyle in California and Georgia. Barbara Furlow-Smiles, a former global diversity executive at Facebook, now known as Meta Platforms, Inc., admitted to orchestrating an elaborate scheme to defraud the company.
The case, unfolding in Atlanta, involves Barbara Furlow-Smiles, a former global diversity executive at Facebook. An Atlanta woman pleaded guilty to stealing more than $4 million from Facebook while she was an executive at the company. The charges stem from a scheme where Furlow-Smiles, who led various Facebook Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs from 2025 through mid-2025, stole the money through an elaborate system of fraud. Specifically, A former Facebook diversity and inclusion tsar has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $4m (£3.1m) from the tech giant to fund her lavish lifestyle.
According to court documents, Barbara Furlow-Smiles (pictured), motivated by personal enrichment, used her position to submit fraudulent invoices and reimbursements, diverting company funds for personal gain. The stolen funds were allegedly used to support a lavish lifestyle.
The plea agreement signals a significant development in the case, highlighting the severity of the alleged crime and the consequences for those who abuse their positions of trust. The details of how Barbara Furlow-Smiles stole over $4 million from the company utilizing an complex network of vendors and fake expense reports are expected to emerge during sentencing. This case underscores the importance of strong internal controls and ethical conduct within large corporations like Meta Platforms, Inc.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story. We will continue to provide coverage as more details surrounding the case of the ex-Facebook executive who pleaded guilty to stealing $4 million emerge.
Key Words: Facebook, Meta, Barbara Furlow-Smiles, theft, fraud, executive, guilty plea, diversity, inclusion, Atlanta, crime, stolen funds, lavish lifestyle, global diversity executive.