Jared Fogle 1 - H 2015
AP ImagesThe Indiana State Police had a message for would-be child pornographers in the wake of the Jared Fogle investigation: “Fame and fortune will not protect you.”
ISP superintendent Doug Carter spoke Wednesday at a press conference immediately following Fogle’s court appearance, where the former Subway spokesman faced charges of traveling to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and the distribution and receipt of child pornography.
“I cannot think of anything more repugnant than sexually victimizing a child,” said Carter.
U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler also spoke, outlining the findings from the FBI’s investigation of over 47,000 emails and text messages, as well as multiple hard drives and interviews.
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“Let’s call this what it is: This is about using wealth status and secrecy to illegally exploit children,” said Minkler.
Fogle has agreed to plead guilty to the charges under the terms of a plea deal he struck with prosecutors, CNN reported Wednesday.
As part of the deal, Fogle will serve between five and 12 years in federal prison, followed by a period of supervised release, for victimizing 14 children since 2007. His out-of-state activity was conducted during business travel — this was stated without distinguishing whether such travel was for the foundation or for Subway.
Under the deal, Fogle will pay $1.4 million in restitution to the 14 victims — $100,000 to each for treatment, counseling and education. He also will be required to register as a sex offender and undergo treatment for sexual disorders.
According to charging documents obtained by The Smoking Gun, Fogle is accused of having sex with two 16-year-old girls at hotels in New York City, including at the expensive Plaza Hotel. One told investigators she had sex with Fogle three times when she was 16 and again when she was 17. She said she told him her age when they first met. Afterward, Fogle allegedly texted her and offered to pay her a fee if she would find another another underage girl for sex acts. He said “that he would accept a 16-year-old girl, while stating that the younger the girl, the better,” stated the documents.
Additionally, the documents also alleged that Fogle repeatedly received sexually explicit images and videos produced by Russell Taylor, who ran the charitable Jared Foundation and was arrested on seven counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Some of the explicit materials Fogle received from Taylor were procured via a video camera hidden in a clock radio that filmed children changing clothes or bathing in buildings where Taylor lived.
“You may hide in the confines of your home, on the Internet and your tablet … but we’ll find you,” said Indiana police Chief Richard Hite at the conference.
The FBI raided Fogle’s Indianapolis home last month in connection to a child-pornography case. Following the raid, Subway suspended its ties with the longtime spokesman, who rose to fame following his notable weight loss due to eating routinely at the sandwich chain.
Taylor’s attorney, Brad Banks, said Tuesday that his client remains in federal custody and that prosecutors have until Sept. 3 to issue a grand-jury indictment.
After news broke of Fogle’s expected plea, Subway posted a message to its Facebook page to say it has cut all ties with the onetime face of the company. The post reads: “We no longer have a relationship with Jared and have no further comment.”
