Chipotle exec placed on leave amid drug allegationsChipotle exec placed on leave amid drug allegations

Mark Crumpacker. Photo: Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images for Variety

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. said its chief creative and development officer Mark Crumpacker has been placed on administrative leave Thursday after reports said he had been indicted on charges related to a cocaine ring bust.

The New York Daily News published a report that said Crumpacker was among 18 people who faced charges after police indicted three drug traffickers who allegedly sold cocaine in bars and clubs across Manhattan’s Lower East Side. 

Alleged buyers of the drugs were also charged. The New York District Attorney’s office could not confirm whether Crumpacker was among those who face charges because some of the alleged buyers had not yet been arraigned or were not in custody. The New York Daily News said "papers showed" the Chipotle executive was a customer.

Chris Arnold, Chipotle’s communications director, said the company knew very little about the charges, but that Crumpacker had been placed on administrative leave.

“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. Mark’s responsibilities have been assigned to other senior managers in his absence,” Arnold said in an email.

Crumpacker has been with Chipotle since 2009 when he was appointed chief marketing officer. He became chief development officer in 2013 and, in 2015, his title changed to chief creative and development officer, according to Chipotle’s website. Before joining Chipotle, he was creative director for Sequence LLC, a strategic design and marketing consulting firm he co-founded in 2002.

According to The Daily News, Crumpacker was indicted along with a Fox Business producer and Merrill Lynch employee.

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