A raid at the home of an iconic restaurant spokesman is casting a spotlight on his relationship with the former head of a foundation he set up to combat childhood obesity.
US federal and state authorities on Tuesday raided the Indiana residence of Subway spokesman Jared Fogle, two months after the then-executive director of Fogle’s foundation was arrested on child pornography charges.
Authorities would not describe the nature of the probe or what they hoped to find on electronics devices removed from Fogle’s house. Fogle’s attorney said his client, known by millions as “The Subway Guy,” was cooperating.
Photo: AP
Subway said in a statement that it believed the raid was “related to a prior investigation” of a former employee of the Jared Foundation, founded by Fogle to raise awareness about childhood obesity. The company did not say whether that employee was former foundation executive director Russell Taylor.
US 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 sexually explicit photos and videos Taylor allegedly produced by secretly filming 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 on Tuesday.
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 issued a statement saying Fogle and the company had “mutually agreed to suspend their relationship due to the current investigation.”
Fogle, 37, became the chain’s spokesman after shedding 111kg more than 15 years ago, in part by regularly eating Subway sandwiches. Subway began featuring Fogle in commercials and his story was instrumental in giving the sandwich chain an image as a healthy place to eat.
Neighbors said Fogle and his wife entertained often, but that they did not see them outside a lot.
Jacob Schrader, 19, who lives across from Fogle’s house, said the spokesman seems “like a pretty private guy” and that he had only seen him about a dozen times in the past five or six years.
“He’s like an endangered species or something like that,” Schrader said.
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