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Sickening details of former Subway spokesman Jared Fogle’s alleged crimes

SICKENING details have emerged regarding millionaire and former Subway spokesman Jared Fogle’s alleged taste for underage sex.

Jared Fogle's Attorney Announces Guilty Plea

“THE younger the girl, the better”.

That was one of the text messages former Subway spokesman Jared Fogle allegedly sent to a 17-year-old girl the day after paying to have sex with her in an exclusive hotel in New York. But prosecutors say it didn’t end there.

The 37-year-old married Fogle then allegedly told the teen he would “really make it worth her while” if she could find him a girl even younger than herself.

This is just one of some of the extraordinary allegations levelled at the millionaire sandwich chain spruiker, who has been placed in home detention and is being divorced by his wife after he agreed to plead guilty to charges of engaging in sex acts with minors and receiving child pornography. He will be monitored by GPS.

Court documents obtained by news.com.au reveal he also offered “numerous prostitutes” — adult women whom he’d already had sex with — a finder’s fee for access to minors.

Fogle also allegedly made repeated business trips to “coincide with his pursuit of commercial sex acts.”

The US District Attorney’s office in Indianapolis has released documents overnight outlining the details of Fogel’s plea deal, alleging the 37-year-old engaged in sex acts with minors and received “images and videos of nude or partially clothed minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct” from alleged co-conspirator Russell Taylor, a close friend of Fogle’s and former director of his The Jared Foundation, which Fogle set up to help children to beat obesity through school excursions and other events.

Jared Fogle (C) walks out of the courthouse on August 19, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Picture: Joey Foley
Jared Fogle (C) walks out of the courthouse on August 19, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Picture: Joey Foley

Taylor, 43, became executive director in 2008. A tip from a woman who contacted the Indiana State Police was the “genesis” of the investigation into Taylor and eventually led authorities to Fogle. The woman alleged Taylor offered to send her images and video of the child porn.

Many of the fourteen victims listed in documents obtained by news.com.au had no idea they were even being filmed getting changed or going to the bathroom. Cameras were hidden in clock radios.

Federal investigators analysed 159,634 text messages, 27,140 emails, 47,623 images and 3,394 videos.

Search warrants were issued for 16 smartphones, five basic phones, five MP3 players, six harddrives, five cameras, 10 flash drives, 22 DVDs and more.

Court documents allege Fogle stated “the younger, the better”.
Court documents allege Fogle stated “the younger, the better”.

“I cannot think of anything more repugnant than sexually victimising a child,” Doug Carter, superintendent of the Indiana State Police State, said at a news conference.

Associated Press reports Fogle sat with his head down and quietly answered “no” when the judge asked whether he had any questions about his rights.

Wearing a black suit and tie, the Indystar reported Fogel looked “nervous, repeatedly clasped and unclasped his hands” while “nodding affirmatively and spoke softly” with a “stone-faced expression”.

He is expected to plead guilty on a later date to one count each of travelling to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and distribution and receipt of child pornography. Prosecutors are recommending up to 13 years’ prison time for Fogle. In federal cases, prisoners must serve at least 85 per cent of sentences. No date was set for a hearing on the guilty plea.

“We believe Mr Fogle should not be treated any better or any worse,” authorities said in a press conference.

“This is the recommendation we would make on anybody who did this, whether its Jared Fogle or not we believe he should be treated no better or no worse based on his status.

Jared Fogle shows off the lost weight after eating Subway sandwiches for one year. He’s pictured in Sydney in 2002.
Jared Fogle shows off the lost weight after eating Subway sandwiches for one year. He’s pictured in Sydney in 2002.

Court documents state Fogel has agreed to pay $1.4 million in restitution to the 14 minor victims, each receiving $100,000, register as a sex offender and undergo treatment for sexual disorders.

“Jared is accepting responsibility for what he has done,” Fogle’s lawyer Jeremy Margolis said.

“He is also volunteering to make restitution to those affected by his deplorable behaviour. While Jared fully recognises 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.

“Jared also understands that he requires significant psychiatric medical treatment and counselling. He has already begun that process by being extensively examined by a world-renowned expert in sexual conditions in order to chart a course to recovery. It is Jared’s intent and goal to become healthy again.

“Most importantly, Jared understands that he has hurt innocent people, vulnerable people, and his family. He has expressed remorse to me and to his loved ones, and will, when given the opportunity, express that remorse to this court and to the people he has harmed. His intent is to spend the rest of his life making amends.”

Jared Fogle before losing the weight.
Jared Fogle before losing the weight.

SEX WITH MINORS IN FANCY HOTEL

The plea agreement says Fogel travelled from Indiana to New York City and paid for sex with at least two minors between 2010 and 2013 at upscale hotels. The victims were 16 and 17 years old.

Specifically, on November 3, 2012, he paid a 17-year-old girl — known as “Minor Victim 13” — to engage in sex acts with him at the Plaza Hotel in New York, where he was staying at the time.

The following day, Fogle sent a text message to one of the victims, offering to pay her a fee if she could find him an underage girl to engage in commercial sex acts with him.

Fogle allegedly said he would accept a 16-year-old girl, but “the younger the girl, the better”.

A month later, on December 27, Fogle sent more texts to the victim, offering to pay for another minor. Fogle stated “he would really make it worth her while if she could find one”.

The same day, he asked another victim — “Minor Victim 12 — to send him pictures of herself.

On January 11, 2013, Fogle had moved to the Ritz Carlton, when he paid for sexual acts with Minor Victim 13.

Fogle outside his home.
Fogle outside his home.

SECRET CHILD PORNOGRAPHY TAPES

Russell Taylor’s mugshot, courtesy Indiana State Police
Russell Taylor’s mugshot, courtesy Indiana State Police

The documents allege Fogle knowingly obtained child pornography “on multiple occasions” that were secretly produced by Taylor between 2011 and 2015. Twelve victims, boys and girls as young as 9-years-old, appeared in photos and videos allegedly taken in secret at Taylor’s residence.

“These images and videos included a lascivious exhibition of the genitalia or pubic area of the minors,” reads the plea deal.

The images or videos were produced using multiple hidden cameras concealed in clock radios “positioned so that they would capture the minors changing clothes, showering, bathing or engaging in other activities”.

The pornography he produced was made at the same time he was employed by The Jared Foundation.

Fogle knew some of the victims’ names, where they lived and in some cases, even met them during social events in Indiana, it is alleged.

“If the Defendant had promptly reported to law enforcement what he knew of these activities, then the sexually explicit material involving later victims would not have been produced.”

Authorities found 400 “video files of nude or partially nude minor children” during a search of Taylor’s house, according to court documents.

Some of the victims, who allegedly featured in commercial child porn owned by Taylor and distributed to Fogle were as young as six.

US Attorney for Indiana’s southern district Josh Minkler said Fogle allegedly learned of Taylor’s activities in 2011, when Taylor is accused of sexually exploiting a 14-year-old girl.

“Mr Fogle did nothing to stop the abuse or report it to authorities,” Minkler said, “but chose instead to receive and repeatedly view the child pornography involving the girl and ... other minors. ... He preyed on minor victims who did not have the ability to protect themselves.”

Fogle fired Taylor soon after his arrest, claiming he was “shocked” and that the foundation was “severing all ties”.

Taylor attempted suicide a week after his arrest. He remains in federal custody.

WIFE FILES FOR DIVORCE

“Obviously, I am extremely shocked and disappointed by the recent developments involving Jared, Fogle’s wife Katie said in a statement.

“I am in the process of seeking a dissolution of the marriage. My focus is exclusively on the wellbeing of my children. Neither I nor my family will have any further comment on the amtter. I appreciate respect for my family’s privacy during this difficult time”.

Meanwhile, the Fogle family released this statement:

“Our family is shocked and profoundly disappointed in Jared’s abhorrent criminal behaviour and we are very concerned for the well being of those affected by his conduct.

“At the same time, we are gratified that Jared is accepting responsibility for what he has done by agreeing to plea guilty to the charges filed today and by volunteering to make restitution to the victims.

“We are also gratified that he is seeking medical treatment. We hope that he will become healthy again and are confident that after he serves his sentence, he will continue to make amends. We look forward to the day that he rejoins our family and society.

“We will not be granting any media interviews. Our plan is to comfort each other and heal and we ask that the media respect our family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”

WHERE DOES SUBWAY STAND?

Fogle was the face of Subway for more than 15 years after dropping 90 kilograms by eating Subway sandwiches.

Subway has distanced itself from the case, but through its Twitter account said: “We no longer have a relationship with Jared and have no further comment. Jared Fogle’s actions are inexcusable and do not represent our brand’s values. We had already ended our relationship with Jared.”

Authorities today confirmed there are no charges or allegations that anyone from Subway knew what Fogel was up to.

The chain publicly confirmed the end of the relationship on April 29, following the arrest of Taylor on preliminary child pornography charges.

Fogel was thrust into the spotlight after a 1999 article in Indiana University’s student newspaper.

Fogel wrote how he lost 90 kilograms in one year while eating two Subway sandwiches a day.

In 2000, Fogel’s first Subway commercial was televised. His story about weight helped the fast food outlet open more stores than any other well-known chain.

His net worth is estimated at $15 million.

— youngma@news.com.au

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/the-younger-the-better-exsubway-spokesman-jared-fogle-to-plead-guilty-to-child-porn-charges/news-story/5d087d0b1728d1818dba43485bece294