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Fox Business Network Producer Katie Welnhofer Fired Following Cocaine Bust In New York

By Lawrence Arboleda
Published on: 18:42 PST, Jul 5, 2016

Katie Welnhofer, the producer on Fox Business Network’s Mornings with Maria, has been fired by the network days after she was arrested following a citywide cocaine ring bust last week.

A Fox spokesperson confirmed to People that the 30-year-old Fox Business Network producer was terminated on Tuesday for a security breach.

Welnhofer, who pleaded not guilty, appeared in Manhattan’s Supreme Court on Tuesday for arraignment. According to the court documents presented before the judge, Katie allegedly purchased cocaine at her Chelsea apartment in March and May.

A hand-cuffed Katie was led into the courtroom wearing a gray jumpsuit and with her hair tied in a ponytail. She was held on $15,000 bail.

Katie Welnhofer’s attorney John Buza told People that his client will be absolved of all charges.

The citywide cocaine ring bust conducted last week led to the arrest of 18 white collar buyers. Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance confirmed that these buyers, among them a Chipotle executive and a Merrill Lynch client associate, were “key repeat costumers,” according to AdWeek.

The DA issued a statement following the drug bust.

“Drug dealers profit by sowing seeds of addiction that destroy lives, families, and communities.

We are dedicated to stemming both the supply and demand for dangerous narcotics, and the crime that accompanies the market for illegal drugs.

I thank my Office’s prosecutors and our partners at the NYPD, and in particular, the undercover detectives who put their lives at risk to protect our City’s residents.”

This narcotics operation was organized and discreet, but it could not withstand the precision of this long-term investigation.

Selling cocaine in a variety of bars and clubs throughout Manhattan, the ringleader also allegedly sold to NYPD undercovers on more than a dozen instances.

I commend the brave work of all the investigators who built this case, along with the Violent Criminal Enterprises Unit at District Attorney Vance’s Office.”

Three drug kingpins were arrested for selling the cocaine, which they “allegedly sold at bodegas, restaurants, bars, hotels, and some of the buyers workplaces,” as reported by the New York Daily News. The three kingpins — Kenny Hernandez, Felix Nunez and Oscar Almonte — allegedly sold more than $75,000 over a span of one year.

Prosecutors said that the trio used livery car services to deliver large amounts of cocaine to many well-to-do customers all over Manhattan. The drug bust involved undercover cops who made multiple transactions with the group before making the arrest.

Among those who were arrested during the citywide drug sweep last week include Chipotle executive Mark Crumpacker, 52, Christopher Dodson, a Merrill Lynch associate, and his brother Austin, a real estate professional for Cushman and Wakefield.

Underwriting consultant Christian Jewett, 31, Marwood Group senior associate Kyle Holmes, 27, tax accountant Roman Yoffe, 36, and Huffington Post blogger and education professional Alexander Mallory, 31, round out the list of those who were arrested.

The drug bust that led to the arrest of all 18 individuals was the end result of a yearlong investigation that involved having to secure the number of a coke dealer who delivered contraband to elite investment banker Thomas Hughes. On May 24, 2015, Hughes committed suicide by jumping to his death from a high rise building, as reported by the NY Post.

As indicated in her LinkedIn profile, Katie Welnhofer is from Wilmette, Illinois. Before being hired as a producer for Fox Business Network, Katie worked as a producer for One World Sports. The Northwestern University alum also worked for Good Morning America, Inside Edition, CNBC, and Bloomberg.

Do you believe that Katie Welnhofer is innocent of all the charges filed against her in court? Feel free to share your thoughts below.

[Image via Katie Welnhofer/Facebook]

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