Mark Crumpacker, chief marketing officer of Chipotle, is among 18 people indicted in a cocaine buying scheme.
Crumpacker was named in a 97-count indictment for the misdemeanor crime of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree.
The arrest is the latest blow to an eatery franchise struggling to regain its footing.
In a statement, Chipotle said Crumpacker was placed on administrative leave as the company looks into the charges. "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," Chipotle said. "Mark’s responsibilities have been assigned to other senior managers in his absence."
Reports indicated Fox Business Network producer Katherine Weinhofer was among those indicted. Several of the accused appeared in court before an unsympathetic judge June 30.
The Wall Street Journal noted Chipotle could suffer a setback to its efforts to regain customer trust with the indictment of a high-ranking executive.
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