News

Chipotle CDO linked to NY drug ring

July 1, 2016

Chipotle Chief Creative and Development Officer Mark Crumpacker has allegedly been linked to a drug ring, according to a story at CNBC.

The executive, who had been leading the brand’s efforts to recover from recent food-safety scandals, was named in an indictment Thursday by Manhattan prosecutors, who alleged he was one of 18 repeat buyers of cocaine from a business that reportedly delivered drugs to customers.

Chipotle said it has placed Crumpacker on administrative leave and that it assigned other leaders to fulfilll Crumpacker's duties during his absence.

"We made this decision in order to remain focused on the operation of our business and to allow Mark to focus on these personal matters," Chris Arnold, a Chipotle spokesman, stated in an email to CNBC.

The district attorney said the drug ring delivered more than $75,000 worth of cocaine over a year. Three men were charged with running the operation, which prosecutors said was based in the Lower East Side, according to CNBC.

The indictment claimed meetings between the traffickers and buyers occurred in Duane Reade drugstores, Chinese food restaurants and hotels.

Crumpacker's salary at Chipotle was $532,000 last year, and his compensation included additional stock awards worth $3.61 million, according to Bloomberg. 

As of press time, Chipotle had not yet responded to FastCasual's inquiry about the charges.