Jared Fogle became a household name as the unlikely celebrity spokesman for Subway restaurants after he attributed massive weight loss to eating their sandwiches. However, behind the scenes, Fogle was hiding a dark secret that eventually led to him being exposed as a pedophile and sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison.
Rise to Fame
In 1998, Fogle was an obese college student who lost 245 pounds by eating Subway sandwiches. This stunning weight loss success story led to him becoming the face of Subway ad campaigns.
College Weight Loss
While a student at Indiana University in 1998, the 425-pound Fogle decided to go on a diet centered around eating Subway sandwiches. Amazingly, he lost half his body weight in less than a year.
Subway Spokesman
Fogle’s incredible weight loss while regularly eating Subway caught the eye of the company’s marketing team. They featured Fogle in television ads with his story, launching his career as their unlikely celebrity spokesman.
National Fame
As the “Subway Guy,” Fogle became instantly recognizable across America. He made numerous media appearances to discuss healthy eating and highlight his dramatic weight loss attributed to Subway’s products.
Criminal Downfall
Fogle’s wholesome image was shattered in 2015 when he was charged with possession of child pornography and traveling across state lines to have sex with minors.
Federal Investigation
Federal investigators discovered Fogle’s criminal secret life after looking into the head of his charitable foundation, who was arrested for possession of child pornography in 2015.
Victim Statements
As part of their investigation into Fogle, prosecutors found several underage victims willing to testify about Fogle paying them for commercial sex acts. The sordid details painted Fogle as a serial pedophile.
Fogle’s Admission
When confronted with the allegations and evidence against him, Fogle admitted to federal prosecutors that he had engaged in sexual misconduct with minors and knowingly received child pornography.
Conviction and 15-Year Prison Sentence
Fogle pleaded guilty to the felony counts against him and was sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison for his sex crimes against minors.
Plea Deal
After his shocking admissions to possessing child porn and paying for sex with minors, Fogle struck a plea deal to avoid an even longer potential sentence.
Sentencing
A federal judge sentenced Fogle to 188 months (over 15 years) in prison for his crimes, which the judge strongly condemned as heinous acts against vulnerable children.
Prison Life
Fogle began serving his sentence at a federal prison in Colorado where he has faced threats and attacks from fellow inmates repulsed by the nature of his sex crimes involving minors.
Conclusion
Jared Fogle represents one of the most dramatic falls from grace of any celebrity in recent memory. After becoming the unlikely “Subway Guy” success story, he is now a convicted pedophile serving over 15 years in prison for terrible sex crimes against children that irrevocably destroyed his wholesome public image. The severity of his offenses means he is likely to remain imprisoned well into the 2030s.