Former Subway spokesman Jared Fogle will plead guilty to receiving and distributing child pornography, as well as engaging in an unlawful sex act with a minor.
According to court documents obtained by TheWrap, Fogle will admit to “distributing and receiving visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct” and travelling “in interstate commerce to engage in unlawful commercial sexual acts with minors, and attempted to do so.”
The first charge carries a potential penalty of imprisonment between five and 20 years, a fine up to $250,000, and supervised release that could last between five years and the rest of Fogle’s life. The second charge is punishable by up to 30 years in prison, a fine up to $250,000, and supervised release that could last between five years and the rest of Fogle’s life.
The documents also state that Fogle agrees to a sentence of no less than five years in prison, while the government will not seek a sentence longer than 12 and a half years. Fogle will also undergo treatment for sexual disorders upon his release and will register as a sex offender.
Fogle also agreed to pay $100,000 to each of his 14 victims, for a total of $1.4 million. That number may increase should more victims be discovered through the course of the investigation.
Fogle came under suspicion after the May arrest of Russell Taylor, then-executive director of Fogle’s charity, The Jared Foundation.
The court documents state that Fogle received multiple images of minors engaged in sex acts from Taylor and knew that those depicted were under 18. Taylor filmed the minors without their knowledge using a series of hidden cameras in his home. Some of those depicted were reportedly as young as six years old.
Fogle also traveled multiple times to New York with the purpose of engaging in a sex act with a minor. One victim was 16 when she had sex with Fogle in exchange for money. He also informed multiple prostitutes that he hired across several different states that he would provide a “finder’s fee” to anyone who could arrange for him to have sex with a minor.
U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler held a press conference to formally announce the charges against Fogle. Subway posted a statement on Twitter on Tuesday distancing itself from Fogle. “We no longer have a relationship with Jared and have no further comment,” the statement said.