Celebrities, like the rest of us, are subject to the law when they commit crimes. However, there’s a complex conversation to be had about whether they receive special treatment within the justice system due to their wealth and fame.
The simple fact is that people with a history of huge success may develop greater confidence in their abilities to handle challenges and achieve their goals, which can translate into a willingness to pursue more ambitious goals and take bigger risks. Of course while most famous faces manage to avoid committing crimes, there will always be those who through extreme caution to the wind and find themselves in some pretty serious situations.
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Jared Fogle, formerly known as the “Subway Guy,” is in prison after pleading guilty to charges related to child pornography and engaging in illicit sexual conduct with minors. He was sentenced to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison in November 2015.
Specifically, he pleaded guilty to:
One count of distributing and receiving child pornography.
One count of traveling across state lines to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.
The investigation and charges against Fogle also involved a co-conspirator, Russell Taylor, who was also convicted of child exploitation and child pornography charges. Fogle was initially known for losing a significant amount of weight by eating Subway sandwiches, becoming a spokesperson for the company. However, his public image was shattered after the FBI raid on his home in 2015 and the subsequent revelations of his crimes.
2. Joe Exotic
Joe Exotic, who gained famed following the release of the “Tiger King” Netflix doc, was convicted in 2019 of two counts of murder-for-hire, for attempting to arrange the killing of his rival, Carole Baskin. Exotic was also found guilty on multiple charges related to wildlife violations. Joe illegally killed tigers to make space for other big cats and falsified wildlife records to hide the sales of tigers and other endangered species
3. Josh Duggar
Josh Duggar, a former reality television personality, is currently in prison for receiving and possessing child pornography. He was convicted by a jury in December 2021 and sentenced in May 2022 to over 12 years in federal prison. His sentence also includes registering as a sex offender and 20 years of supervised release after his prison term.
He is serving his sentence at FCI Seagoville in Texas. Duggar’s appeals have been denied. His current earliest release date is December 23, 2032.
4. Ex-NFL Star Darren Sharper
Darren Sharper, a former NFL star, is currently in prison for drugging and raping numerous women in multiple states. His crimes spanned across California, Nevada, Louisiana, and Arizona, where he pleaded guilty or no contest to various charges related to sexual assault and drug distribution.
Sharper was sentenced in 2016 to 18 years in federal prison after admitting to drugging and raping women.
5. Ex-MMA Fighter War Machine
Jonathan Paul Koppenhaver, known to fighting fans as “War Machine”, is in prison for kidnapping, beating, and sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Christine Mackinday (also known as Christy Mack), and assaulting her male friend, Corey Thomas. War Machine was convicted on 29 of 34 charges, including sexual assault and kidnapping, according to ESPN.
He was sentenced to 36 years to life in Nevada state prison and will be eligible for parole when he is 71 years old.
6. U.S. Representative George Santos
Former U.S. Representative George Santos was sentenced to 87 months (over seven years) in federal prison on April 25, 2025, after pleading guilty to charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He is expected to surrender to the Federal Bureau of Prisons by July 25, 2025, to begin serving his sentence.
7. Ryan Grantham
Ryan Grantham, a Canadian actor known for roles in Riverdale and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, is in prison for the second-degree murder of his mother, Barbara Waite. He was sentenced to life in prison with parole ineligibility for 14 years.
8. U.S. Senator Robert Menendez
Former U.S. Senator Robert Menendez is in prison for bribery, fraud, and acting as a foreign agent. In 2023, Menendez, a Democrat representing New Jersey, was indicted on federal corruption charges, including allegations that he used his position to benefit the Egyptian government in exchange for bribes. He was later charged with conspiracy to act as a foreign agent.
