Former Subway spokesman Jared Fogle is expected to plead guilty to child-pornography charges, law enforcement officials said. The report by local media comes six weeks after authorities raided Fogles home, seizing electronics and other items.
Fox 59 reported that unnamed sources said Fogle will accept a plea deal on 19 August and the US Attorneys Office will hold a news conference to discuss the deal and the charges levied against the former sandwich restaurant spokesperson.
The report was neither confirmed nor denied by Fogles attorney, Ron Elberger, who said any information regarding the charges faced by his client would come from the attorneys office. Elberger confirmed that Fogles relationship with Subway continues to be suspended.
In light of the news, Subway issued a new statement to Fox59, saying: We have already ended our relationship with Jared and have no further comment.
As previously reported by IBTimes UK, texts subpoenaed by the FBI revealed Fogle allegedly paid a 16-year-old girl $100 (£64) for sex. The texts were received by a woman who once worked for the sandwich restaurant and claims management ignored her concerns about Fogle.
The subpoenaed messages span from January 2008 to June 2008 and were confirmed to be from a phone number registered to a Jared Fogle. The womans lawyer told reporters the two had a sexual relationship which became strained after he pushed her to advertise herself on Craigslist.
Fogle also allegedly asked the woman to set up a meeting with her underaged cousin in May 2008.
Subway ended its relationship with Fogle, who had been the chains spokesman for 15 years, on 7 July after his home was raided by federal and state authorities. The police search occurred months after an employee at Fogles charitable foundation, Russell Taylor, was arrested on child-pornography charges.
