Fogle faces jail time for child sex charges
Jared Fogle, who was the face of the Subway restaurant chain for 15 years, will plead guilty to distributing and receiving child pornography and engaging in sex acts with minors, his attorney and federal prosecutors said Wednesday.
Federal charging documents released Wednesday morning accused the former pitchman of participating in a years-long scheme to sexually exploit children.
According to the terms of a plea agreement released by federal prosecutors, Fogle has agreed to plead guilty to one count of distribution and receipt of child pornography and one count of traveling to engage in unlawful sex acts with minors. He faces at least five years in prison, and prosecutors have agreed not to request a sentence of more than 12.5 years.
A judge will ultimately decide Fogle’s sentence.
In a statement, Fogle’s attorney, Jeremy Margolis, said that his client will plead guilty to all charges and has been examined by a “worldrenowned expert in sexual conditions” to begin his recovery.
“Jared Fogle expects to go to prison, he will do Former Subway pitchman Jared Fogle leaves the Federal Courthouse in Indianapolis on Wednesday following a hearing on child-pornography charges. his time, he expects to get well, he expects to continue to make amends to those people whose lives he has affected,” Fogle’s attorney, Jeremy Margolis, said outside the courthouse Wednesday.
Fogle has also agreed to pay a total of $1.4 million to 14 victims.
Fogle’s wife, Katie Fogle, said in a statement released by her attorney that she is seeking a divorce. “Obviously, I am extremely shocked and disappointed by the recent developments involving Jared,” the statement said. The couple have children.
Wednesday’s announcement was the result of a months-long investigation that examined dozens of cellphones and computers and hundreds of thousands of text messages and emails.
The investigation began with a tip from a private citizen “many months ago,” said Doug Carter, superintendent of the Indiana State Police, who, along with the FBI and Indianapolis Police Department, investigated Fogle.
“I cannot think of anything more repugnant than sexually victimizing a child,” he said.
Fogle, 37, became the focus of public suspicion in July when federal agents seized documents and electronics from his home in an Indianapolis suburb.