Jared Fogle was a morbidly obese student at Indiana University and solved his crippling weight problem by eating Subway food. Eventually, Fogle became a celebrated pitchman for Subway and the face of their brand, earning millions of dollars. However, Fogle had a dirty little secret that emerged and was the subject of a federal prosecution–he was obsessed with having sex with minors and was a regular consumer of child pornography.
Fogle pled guilty to possession and distribution of child pornography and traveling across state lines to have sex with a minor. The government and Fogle reached a plea agreement in which he agreed that he wouldn’t ask for a sentence below 5 years while the government agreed it wouldn’t ask for a sentence above 150 months—his guideline sentencing range was 135 to 168 months.
Last week, Fogle learned his fate and it wasn’t pretty. Judge Tanya Walton Pratt imposed a sentence above the guideline range, ordering Fogle to serve 188 months in prison. This sentence began, forthwith. Judge Pratt noted “[T]he level of perversion and lawlessness exhibited by Mr. Fogle is extreme.” She described Fogle as having had a “privileged” upbringing before becoming “obsessed” with sex and minors. Pratt even conceded that she believes Fogle is sincere in his remorse and took into account the $1.4 million in restitution he paid. However, Judge Pratt noted that “this defendant’s celebrity cuts both ways as he will likely get protection when he goes to the Bureau of Prisons.” I’m not sure which planet Judge Pratt is on but she’s sorely misinformed that Fogle, as a sex offender, will be given special protection by the BOP.
As Fogle was exiting stage left, he blew a kiss and waved goodbye to about a dozen friends and family members who attended the proceeding. It isn’t known if his wife attended as she is seeking a divorce.