CULTURE

Subway Pitchman Jared Fogle's Text Messages Subpoenaed by FBI (Report)

11:12 PM PDT 7/31/2015 by THR Staff

Associated Press

In texts sent to a former female Subway franchisee, Fogle reportedly wrote that he had sex with a 16-year-old girl and it was "amazing!!!!"

An affidavit containing texts between Subway pitchman Jared Fogle and a former female Subway franchisee has been subpoenaed by the FBI, according to Business Insider.

In the alleged text messages, Fogle asked the former franchisee, whom he was reportedly in a sexual relationship with in 2008, to advertise herself on Craigslist to have sex with other men and inquired if he could pay her up to $500 per act to watch.

A lawyer for the woman reportedly said that the FBI recently subpoenaed his office for the text message conversations. The former franchisee's attorney said the messages were recorded in 2008 by a court reporter and spanned from January 2008 to June 2008.

In May 2008, Business Insider reports that the affidavit reads that Fogle asked the woman to set up a meeting with her cousin, who was underage at the time, according to the former franchisee's attorney.

The age of consent in Indiana is 16.

"When can we find a time for me to talk to your cousin?" Fogle asked May 1, 2008. "Any more news with your cousin?" he inquired a day later. "Tell me what u think about when u think of the three of us all together???"

According to the affidavit, Fogle texted earlier in April 2008, "How young would you like?... Would you want to have an adventure like that?"
 
On June 19, 2008, the woman's lawyer says that the Subway spokesman asked the woman to advertise herself on Craigslist, to which she responded, "Is this the same website you found that 16 year old girl you that you f—ed? ...I still can't believe you only paid $100 for her."

Fogle responded, "It was amazing!!!!"

The woman then asked, "What part of her ad made you think she was selling sex?" to which Fogle replied, "U will have to read them to see."

The female franchisee later became uncomfortable with the communication between her and Fogle and hired an attorney in an effort to decipher if the conversations violated her contract with Subway. Her messages were reportedly then extracted from her cellphone.
 
 
According to her lawyer, the woman reported the conversations with Fogle to two levels of management at Subway's corporate office, and requested that all Fogle-related marketing be removed from her store. Her lawyer also said she "also specifically warned them that he should not be interacting with young people."
 
On July 7, FBI agents raided Fogle's Indiana home in connection with a child pornography investigation. His appearance in Sharknado 3 was pulled by Syfy two days after the raid, and his relationship with Subway was also suspended as a result of the investigation.
 
Fogle's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
 
On Saturday afternoon, Subway issued a statement on Twitter addressing the allegations: "The latest allegation about Jared Fogle, if true, is appalling. As previously stated, we have suspended our relationship with Jared."
 

Aug. 1, 1:51 p.m.: Updated with Subway's statement.