Adam Fetcher, 42, a former press secretary for the Obama administration, was fired from his position as Chief Communications Officer for the City of Minneapolis after allegedly stealing from colleagues to fund a drug habit. The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that Fetcher is accused of taking cash and credit cards from three coworkers and making fraudulent purchases at smoke shops.
According to sources, Fetcher allegedly stole from colleagues' desks and purses to support his habit, even after returning from a work-approved rehabilitation program earlier this year. Surveillance footage reportedly captured him using a stolen credit card to purchase Kratom, an unregulated herbal powder known for its addictive qualities, often used to manage opioid withdrawal.
Police in Minneapolis have submitted a case file to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office seeking criminal charges. The case includes an incident from last month where Fetcher is accused of stealing a credit card from a colleague's purse and making $481 in unauthorized charges at a smoke shop. State law defines such fraudulent use of a credit card as a felony, pending prosecution.
Staff at the smoke shop, located a mile from Fetcher's home, informed the outlet that a woman had called reporting unauthorized charges on her card. Store manager Hamza Zamara stated that employees identified Fetcher, a regular customer, as the individual who used the card. Employees reportedly took a photograph of Fetcher and his vehicle when he returned to the store, confronting him and subsequently reporting him to the police.
These alleged incidents occurred between May and June, shortly after Fetcher returned to work following a nine-week personal leave for treatment. On July 1, City Operations Officer Margaret Anderson Kelliher terminated Fetcher's employment.
In an internal email to staff, Kelliher announced a change in leadership within the Communications team, commending the team's reorganization and staffing. The email did not specify the reasons for Fetcher's dismissal.
A subsequent email from Kelliher confirmed that several city employees had reported missing cash, debit, or credit cards, with some resulting in unauthorized charges. Kelliher assured staff that the city was taking the reports seriously and had acted accordingly, stating there was no ongoing risk of theft at that time.
Fetchers's resume includes a tenure as deputy national press secretary for the Obama administration, as well as senior communications roles for companies like Rivian, Lyft, and Patagonia.
Federal regulators have been reviewing kratom for approximately ten years due to reports of addiction, injury, and overdose. However, users and distributors advocate for kratom as a potentially safer alternative to opioid painkillers and have lobbied against stricter regulation.