'Subway Guy' Jared Fogle's home raided
Reuters
Date July 8, 2015 - 8:05AM
US authorities have raided the home of Jared Fogle, the face of sandwich chain Subway, about two months after the executive director of his foundation was arrested on federal child pornography charges.
Fogle, who became known as the "Subway Guy" after losing a large amount of weight by eating the sandwiches, was seen for a time outside his home in Zionsville, a suburb north-west of Indianapolis, as law enforcement agents removed electronics from the house on Tuesday, local time, Indianapolis news outlet WTHR reported.
Fogle left his home in the upscale neighbourhood around midday as the search continued, according to local media.
Jared Fogle leaves his home in Zionsville, after police removed electronics from the property. Photo: Michael Conroy/AP
It was not clear whether Fogle, a father of two, was a target of what authorities have said was a joint investigation by local, state and federal law enforcement officials. Officials declined to comment about the activity at Fogle's home.
Fogle's attorney said Fogle had not been detained or arrested or charged "with any crime or offence."
"Jared has been cooperating, and continues to cooperate, with law enforcement in their investigation of unspecified charges and looks forward to its conclusion," attorney Ron Elberger said in a statement.
Federal authorities walk into the home of Subway restaurant spokesman Jared Fogle. Photo: Michael Conroy/AP
Two police cars were parked in front of the two-storey white brick house and law enforcement officers could be seen going in and out of the building.
A large white truck belonging to law enforcement was stationed in the driveway of Fogle's home.
Subway, a privately held company, issued a statement saying it was "shocked" by the news and believed it was related to the prior investigation of the former Jared Foundation figure.
'Subway Guy' Jared Fogle was the face of the fast food chain. Photo: Getty Images
"We are very concerned and will be monitoring the situation closely," a Subway spokesman said. "We don't have any more details at this point."
A neighbour, who asked not to be identified by name, said Fogle had lived in the home for about four years and that the family members generally kept to themselves.
The Indiana State Police assisted the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Indiana in the investigation, according to state police spokesman Sergeant Richard Myers.
Officials said the FBI and the US Postal Service also were involved in the investigation.
Russell Taylor, the Jared Foundation's former executive director, was arrested on May 3 and charged with seven counts of production and one count of possession of child pornography.
Authorities said they found videos they believed Taylor produced by secretly filming minor children at his home.
The investigators said they found more than 400 videos of alleged child pornography on computers and storage media recovered from Taylor's office in his Indianapolis home.
Fogle became a Subway spokesman after losing a reported 111 kilograms in part by eating regularly at the sandwich chain.
Fogle made his first Subway commercial in 2000 and appeared in a new one last year, according to the company's website.
