Reports: Ex-Subway Spokesman To Admit To Child-Porn Charges

Longtime Subway spokesman Jared Fogle is expected to plead guilty Wednesday to child-pornography charges, sources tell CBS affiliate WTTV.

The development was first reported Tuesday evening by Fox59 in Indianapolis and comes six weeks after authorities seized electronics and other items from Fogle's home in Zionsville, an affluent Indianapolis suburb.

According to WTTV, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Indianapolis is expected to hold a news conference Wednesday to discuss the deal.

The 37-year-old Fogle became a Subway pitchman more than 15 years ago after shedding more than 200 pounds as a college student, in part by eating the chain's sandwiches.

Subway suspended its association with Fogle after the raid. In a tweet Tuesday evening, the company said, "We no longer have a relationship with Jared and have no further comment."

Ron Elberger, an Indianapolis attorney who represents Fogle, and Tim Horty, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Indianapolis, both declined to comment on the report.

Two months before Fogle's home was raided, authorities arrested the then-executive director of Fogle's foundation on child-porn charges. Russell Taylor, 43, ran the Jared Foundation, which sought to raise awareness about childhood obesity. He was charged 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.
After those charges were filed, Fogle issued a statement saying he was shocked by the allegations and was severing all ties with Taylor.

Though Fogle has not been front-and-center in Subway's advertising recently, he had still been acting as a Subway spokesman and appearing at events on the company's behalf.

Fogle's history with Subway reaches back to when he was a student at Indiana University. The college paper published a story on his weight loss that was then picked up by national media.

The company, based in Milford, Connecticut, has declined to provide details on its financial arrangements with Fogle.

Last year, average sales for Subway stores in the U.S. declined 3 percent from the previous year, Technomic said.

The company is privately held and does not release financial information.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.