Drugs charges dropped against Chipotle CMO after coke bust

Drug charges have been dropped against a high-flying Chipotle executive after he kept clean, and out of trouble, for a year. 

Mark Crumpacker, the 54-year-old chief of marketing and developing for the Mexican fast-casual chain, made headlines in 2016 when he was swept up in a massive drug bust in Manhattan. 

Prosecutors said Crumpacker was caught on a wire ordering cocaine to be delivered 13 times to his $2.5million apartment on West 13th Street and spent $3,000 on the recreational drug.

In January 2017, he pleaded guilty to the drug charges filed against him in exchange for having the case dismissed if he agreed to attend a substance abuse treatment program and keep out of trouble for a year.

Now, after sticking to the program for the full course, the cocaine charges have been dropped.

Drug charges have been dropped against high-flying Chipotle executive Mark Crumpacker (pictured in Manhattan Supreme Court today) after he kept clean for a year

Crumpacker, the 54-year-old chief of marketing and developing for the Mexican fast-casual chain, made headlines in 2016 when he was swept up in a massive drug bust in Manhattan

Crumpacker, the 54-year-old chief of marketing and developing for the Mexican fast-casual chain, made headlines in 2016 when he was swept up in a massive drug bust in Manhattan

Crumpacker, who wrapped up against the cold over his grey blazer, was spotted at Manhattan Supreme Court to hear the charges get dismissed.

Last year, his lawyer Gerald Lefcourt told the Daily Mail that the judge was ‘very happy’ with his client’s progress. Lefcourt also revealed that the Chipotle executive has been receiving treatment at an outpatient program and was doing ‘great.’ 

The 53-year-old is the chief of marketing and developing for the Mexican fast-casual chain.

Crumpacker had been placed on leave by Chipotle in June 2016 following his arrest but returned to work in September that same year, helping lead the chain’s efforts to recover from a series of food scares. 

In January 2017, he pleaded guilty to the drug charges filed against him in exchange for having the case dismissed if he agreed to attend a substance abuse treatment program

In January 2017, he pleaded guilty to the drug charges filed against him in exchange for having the case dismissed if he agreed to attend a substance abuse treatment program

Today he was back in court to hear the charges against him get dismissed after sticking to the program for the full course

Today he was back in court to hear the charges against him get dismissed after sticking to the program for the full course

Chipotle said none of Crumpacker’s drug-related activities took place during work time.

A Fox Business Network producer and a Cushman & Wakefield employee were among those netted in the cocaine bust. Accused drug peddlers in the operation were also charged.

Crumpacker made just shy of $4.3million in total compensation in 2015 in his role as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at the Mexican fast food chain, receiving roughly $45,000 for housing expenses and over $30,000 for a company car.

Of his total compensation, he received $530,000 as his salary as of 2015.

According to the district attorney, Crumpacker had asked for cocaine to be delivered 13 times to his $2.5 million apartment (pictured) in Manhattan, and spent $3,000

According to the district attorney, Crumpacker had asked for cocaine to be delivered 13 times to his $2.5 million apartment (pictured) in Manhattan, and spent $3,000

Crumpacker was named Chipotle's Chief Development Officer and now leads the company's real estate, design, construction and facilities functions worldwide (stock image)

Crumpacker was named Chipotle’s Chief Development Officer and now leads the company’s real estate, design, construction and facilities functions worldwide (stock image)

Judge Edward McLaughlin said to Crumpacker and his lawyer during his first appearance: ‘I don’t want someone who is a purported bigshot to think they should be treated differently.’

Crumpacker was named Chipotle’s first CMO in January 2009, and according to his LinkedIn page he oversees all of the company’s marketing functions including advertising, design, events, public relations, social media, and research.

In 2013, Crumpacker was named Chipotle’s Chief Development Officer and now leads the company’s real estate, design, construction and facilities functions worldwide.

Prior to joining Chipotle, he was the founder, CEO and Creative Director at Sequence, a San Francisco-based branding and interactive agency.

The salaries of Chipotle’s top executives were hit earlier this year thanks to a damaging E. Coli outbreak linked to its restaurants. Co-CEOs Steve Ells and Monty Moran had their pay cut in half in 2015.

Ells’ pay dropped to $13.8m in 2015, down from $28.9 million; while Moran’s pay dropped to $13.6 million from $28.1 million. They were awarded no stock.

Crumpacker’s salary also took a 20 per cent hit in 2015 from one year prior.



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk