Report: Subway spokesman Jared Fogle paid to have sex with 16-year-old girl

The FBI is investigating whether former Subway spokesman Jared Fogel paid $100 to have sex with a 16-year-old girl, according to Business Insider.

The publication reports that the FBI has subpoenaed an affidavit that contains texts between Fogle and a former female Subway franchisee in which Fogle asked her to advertise herself on Craigslist to have sex with men.

According to Business Insider, the texts allegedly say that she asked Fogle if Craigslist was “the same website you found that 16-year-old girl that you (slept with) ... I still can’t believe you only paid $100 for her.’’

His alleged response: “It was amazing.”

As the story broke, Subway, which had already dropped Fogle as a spokesman, took to both Facebook and Twitter to further distance itself from the man who made a name for himself in 1998 after losing 235 pounds by eating Subway sandwiches while he was a college student.

“About the most recent news story on Jared Fogle, this allegation, if true, is appalling and is contrary to the values of our brand. As previously stated, we have suspended our relationship with Jared,” the company wrote.

Fogle lost his gig with Subway in July after the FBI and Indiana state police searched his suburban Indianapolis home for evidence in connection with a business associate’s arrest for child pornography. Fogle himself has not been charged with any crime.

Business Insider reports that the former Subway franchisee shared the texts with Subway management, who did nothing. The company claims to have no record of her complaint.

An FBI spokesman also told Business Insider that it had no new information to release on the case.

The ABC affiliate WWSB in Sarasota last month reported that a Florida woman, a former journalist who asked to remain anonymous, recalled inappropriate comments that Fogle made to her about young girls. She was around him at charity events he participated in.

“He said something to me when we were off camera and that really stuck with me. I thought to myself, ‘Did he really say that to me?’” she told the TV station.

She claimed that Fogle, who visited schools in Sarasota County, told her on several occasions that “middle school girls are hot.”

“They weren't jokes,” she said. “They were very serious.”

After she reported his comments to the FBI, federal authorities had her wear a wire and record phone conversations with Fogle, which apparently led to the raid on his home last month, the TV station reported.

Fogle’s attorney called the woman’s story a “fabrication.”

This story was originally published August 3, 2015 at 10:25 AM with the headline "Report: Subway spokesman Jared Fogle paid to have sex with 16-year-old girl."