I hope you can choke down this 6-incher:
"Former pitchman for Subway pays $1m to 10 victims" by Rick Callahan Associated Press October 23, 2015
INDIANAPOLIS — Ten victims of former Subway pitchman Jared Fogle have received a total of $1 million in restitution since he agreed to plead guilty to child pornography and sex-crime charges, and his four other victims could receive their checks by the time he is sentenced next month — a move prosecutors said is rare.
The $100,000 checks were hand-delivered to each of the 10 victims or their parents over the last several weeks, with each signing a form saying they had received the money and that it is intended to benefit that particular victim, Assistant US Attorney Steven DeBrota said Thursday.
DeBrota said he’s handled only one other case in which restitution was paid to victims before sentencing in nearly a quarter-century of prosecuting child porn cases.
By the time a federal judge sentences Fogle on Nov. 19 to a minimum of five years in prison, DeBrota said prosecutors expect to have either presented $100,000 checks to Fogle’s four other victims or have plans in place to disburse those funds to them.
That money will pay for mental health counseling, medical care, and other needs the 14 victims might have now or in the future to help them recover from the trauma. Three adults and seven minors had received their checks as of Thursday. DeBrota said that money will help them ‘‘go on with their lives and put them where they should have been had none of this happened.’’
Fogle agreed on Aug. 19 to plead guilty to one count each of travelling to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and distribution and receipt of child pornography. Prosecutors have agreed not to seek a sentence of more than 12½ years in prison and Fogle agreed not to ask for less than five years.
Carol Hepburn, a Seattle attorney who has helped several child porn victims pursue restitution, said the vast majority of restitution orders in those cases are never fully paid. She said she hopes Fogle’s wealth and quick restitution to his victims will have no impact on the length of his sentence.
‘‘I would hope that justice is equal for those who have money as well as those who don’t,’’ Hepburn said.
Fogle became a Subway spokesman about 15 years ago after shedding more than 200 pounds as a college student, in part by eating the chain’s sandwiches. Subway ended its relationship with Fogle after authorities raided his suburban Indianapolis home in July.
Fogle attorney Jeremy Margolis said in an August statement after Fogle signed his plea deal that ‘‘Jared fully recognizes that such monetary contribution will not undo the harm he has caused’’ but hopes it can help ‘‘these individuals as they try to move forward with their lives.’’
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Have you seen the foot-long?
I'm trying to watch my diet, so maybe we could split one.
What do you like on the work of art?
NDU: Maybe you should stay away from Subway.
