Fogle to plead guilty to sex acts with minors, child pornography

Published 10:15 am Wednesday, August 19, 2015

INDIANAPOLIS — Longtime Subway pitchman Jared Fogle has agreed to plead guilty to allegations that he paid for sex acts with minors and received child pornography that he knew had been secretly produced by the former director of his charitable foundation, federal prosecutors said in court documents released Wednesday.

The agreement filed ahead of an expected court appearance by Fogle said he agrees to pay $1.4 million in restitution to 14 minor victims, who will each receive $100,000. Fogle will also be required to register as a sex offender and undergo treatment for sexual disorders.

The government has agreed not to seek a sentence of more than 12½ years in prison, and Fogle has agreed not to ask for less than five years, according to the documents, which say Fogle will plead guilty to one count of traveling to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and one count of distribution and receipt of child pornography.

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Federal judges have wide discretion in sentencing. The child porn charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The count involving sex with a minor is punishable by up to 30 years.

The Associated Press left messages seeking comment with Fogle attorney Ron Elberger.

Fogle, 37, became Subway’s pitchman after shedding more than 200 pounds as a college student, in part by eating the chain’s sandwiches. He was the public face of the company for more than 15 years — a period in which its number of locations tripled, making Subway the world’s largest restaurant chain.