Federal authorities raid home of Subway spokesman Jared Fogle

[Drew Phipps]

Federal authorities raid home of Subway spokesman Jared Fogle

Jul 7th 2015 9:16AM

http://www.aol.com/article/2015/07/07/fe...-117603052

By MATT ADAMS (WXIN) ZIONSVILLE, Ind. (July 7, 2015) Federal authorities raided the home of Subway spokesman Jared Fogle Tuesday morning. FBI sources told FOX59 state and federal and state investigators were serving warrants at Fogle's Zionsville home months after the director of his foundation was arrested in a child pornography case.

The raid started around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday. An evidence truck could be seen parked in the driveway. Investigators from the FBI and Indiana State Police were at the scene. Earlier this year, Russell Taylor, the former director of the Jared Foundation started by Fogle, was arrested in a child pornography case. He was accused of possessing and producing child pornography.

Investigators said a search of Taylor's home turned up more than 500 videos with images of child pornography. In May, Taylor unsuccessfully tried to kill himself while in jail.

Fogle said the foundation severed all ties with Taylor following the arrest. Investigators wouldn't say if Tuesday's raid was connected to that case. Fogle gained national fame after attributing massive weight loss to eating Subway sandwiches. He was a freshman at Indiana University at the time. He later became a visible presence in Subway ad campaigns, pitching the restaurant's sandwiches and touting their health benefits.

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My tea leaves suggest there's more to this story.

[Drew Phipps]

Raid spotlights Subway pitchman's ties to ex-foundation head

http://www.aol.com/article/2015/07/08/ra...D359467784
ZIONSVILLE, Ind. (AP) A raid at the home of an iconic restaurant spokesman is casting a glaring spotlight on his relationship with the former head of a foundation he set up to combat childhood obesity. Federal and state authorities raided the home of Subway pitchman Jared Fogle on Tuesday, just two months after the then-executive director of Fogle's foundation was arrested on child pornography charges. Authorities wouldn't describe the nature of the investigation or what they hoped to find on electronics removed from Fogle's house. Fogle's attorney said his client, known by millions as "The Subway Guy," was cooperating with investigators.


Subway said in a statement that it believed the raid was "related to a prior investigation" of a former employee of the Jared Foundation, an organization founded by Fogle to raise awareness about childhood obesity. The company didn't say whether that employee was former foundation executive director Russell Taylor. Federal prosecutors in May filed a criminal complaint charging Taylor, 43, with seven counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Investigators said they discovered a cache of sexually explicit photos and videos Taylor allegedly produced by secretly filming minor children at his home.


Fogle issued a statement after the charges were filed saying he was shocked by the allegations and was severing all ties with Taylor. Fogle declined to comment as he left his home Tuesday, the hood of a blue rain jacket pulled over his head. Attorney Ron Elberger said in a statement that his client had not been arrested or charged. "Jared has been cooperating, and continues to cooperate, with law enforcement in their investigation of unspecified charges, and looks forward to its conclusion," Elberger said.


Subway removed references to Fogle from its website and issued another statement, saying the two had "mutually agreed to suspend their relationship due to the current investigation." "Jared continues to cooperate with authorities and he expects no actions to be forthcoming," the company said. "Both Jared and Subway agree that this was the appropriate step to take." Fogle, 37, became the restaurant chain's pitchman after shedding 245 pounds more than 15 years ago, in part by regularly eating Subway sandwiches. Subway began featuring Fogle in commercials soon after, and his story was instrumental in giving the sandwich chain an image as a healthy place to eat.


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Stay tuned.