8/19/2015 – Longtime star pitchman for the Subway sandwich chain, Jared Fogle, will reportedly plead guilty in federal court to paying to have sex with children and possession child pornography.
The announcement came today from Fogle’s lawyer Jeremy Margolis.
JohnTV first reported on the FBI investigation into Fogle earlier this month.
Fogle, of Zionsville, Ind., appeared in an Indianapolis court today on charges of paying to have sex with minors and both receiving and distributing child pornography. Under a plea deal, Fogle agrees to a prison sentence of not less than five years and no more than 12.
A federal judge still has to agree to the deal before it can become official.
Subway announced in a Tweet Tuesday night that it had cut all ties with their former golden boy.
Subway’s “no further comment” Tweet was followed by today’s… ummmm, “comment”…
Fogle has specifically agreed to plead guilty to one count of child pornography and one count of traveling to engage in commercial sexual acts with minors.
According to court records unsealed today, Fogle had an increasing appetite to both view and engage in sex acts with children. Fogle’s co-conspirator was officially identified as Russell Taylor – the former executive director of Fogle’s charitable foundation, Jared’s Foundation. Taylor was previously arrested on child pornography charges and made a failed suicide attempt while in custody. Taylor was formally charged in May with seven counts of producing child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
Court records against Fogle and Taylor identify at least 14 minor victims that were secretly video recorded in various states of undress and “other sexually explicit conduct” while in Taylor’s current or former residence between March 2011 and Jan. 2015. Much of the footage was obtained through the use of cameras hidden in ordinary items like clock radios. Taylor shared these videos with Fogle. Fogle is said have expressed approval of Taylor’s actions.
The youngest victim is reported to be only 13-years old.
In addition to the sexually explicit videos Taylor produced and shared with Fogle, Taylor is also said to have shared sexually explicit media produced by a third party. Those images and videos contained victims as young six years old.
Starting in 2010, Fogle traveled out-of-state on multiple occasions for the purpose of engaging in commercial sexual activity with minors he met online.
In November of 2012, Fogle traveled to New York and paid to have sex with a minor at the Plaza Hotel. The next day Fogle sent text messages to the young girl stating that he would pay her a finder’s fee if she could introduce him to other girls – “the younger the girl, the better.”
In January of 2013, Fogle again traveled to New York and paid to have sex with a different minor in exchange for money. This human sex trafficking crime occurred at the Ritz Carlton Hotel.
Fogle is said to have also engaged in prostitution related sex with other women. After doing so, and thus being certain they were not undercover police officers, he would offer them finder’s fees if they could set him up with girls as young as 14-years-old.
Federal authorities outside of Fogle’s residence in July of 2015.
As part of Fogle’s plea agreement, and in addition to serving prison time, Fogle has also agreed to pay $1.4-million in restitution to his 14 minor victims, register as a sex offender and meet other conditions.
“Jared Fogle is agreeing to plead guilty to the charges filed against him today. In doing so, Jared is accepting responsibility for what he has done,” Fogle’s lawyer said in a statement. “[Fogle] is also volunteering to make restitution to those affected by his deplorable behavior. While Jared fully recognizes that such monetary contribution will not undo the harm he has caused, he is hopeful it will assist these individuals as they try to move forward with their lives.
Fogle’s second and current wife, Katie Fogle, has publicly stated that she is seeking a divorce. The two have been married since 2010 and have two children together.
JohnTV will continue to follow this case and report back on the formal sentencing.
Supporting Material
Below is the federal indictment against Jared Fogle. If the document is not appearing below, please refresh your browser or click the caption link below.
Jared Fogle Federal Indictment
Below is Jared Fogle’s plea agreement. If the document is not appearing below, please refresh your browser or click the caption link below.
