Squatty Potty founder charged in federal child porn case; squatty potty creator indicted
Robert "Bobby" Edwards, 50, the millionaire founder of Squatty Potty, was federally indicted on Feb. 10 and arrested on Feb. 12 in Washington County, Utah, in a case alleging receipt and purchase of child sexual abuse material between March 2021 and November 2025. The U. S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Utah announced the indictment on Monday.
Indictment, arrest and court orders
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Edwards with a count of receipt of child pornography on Feb. 10. He was arrested on Feb. 12 and pleaded not guilty during an initial court appearance. A federal judge in St. George remanded him to the custody of the U. S. Marshal Service and he was ordered held without bail by Judge Paul Kohler. He has a hearing scheduled for March 2 at the St. George Courthouse.
Squatty Potty founder charged
Prosecutors say the investigation began in 2021 when an undercover FBI agent joined an online group chat used to trade child sexual abuse material. In March 2021, the agent clicked a Zoom link and entered a virtual meeting room where attendees were watching child sexual abuse videos on a main screen. "Participants in the meeting were visible, including one user later identified as Edwards, " the U. S. Attorney’s Office said. Investigators identified a Zoom user labeled "B E, " traced the Zoom account to Edwards and matched profile and live video images to him. At times his camera was on and showed other men in the room with him; when it was off it showed a profile picture that investigators tied to Edwards.
Undercover Zoom and IP link
Investigators linked an account used in the Zoom meeting to an IP address that showed Edwards was in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, during at least one session. In May 2025, PayPal flagged four transactions on an online payment account as possibly related to child sexual abuse material. Agents said those payments went to John Carver, a United Kingdom man who was arrested days later and ultimately convicted for distributing such materials and blackmailing buyers. Carver is alleged to have advertised illicit content on the messaging app Telegram, then sent a PayPal link for payment followed by a link to the purchased files; prosecutors say he sometimes distributed material in Zoom meetings, like the one the agent witnessed in 2021.
Search warrants and digital evidence
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Edwards' home in November. On Nov. 4, 2025, investigators said they found a cell phone in his vehicle that "contained multiple videos and images of child sexual abuse material, some of which downloaded onto the cell phone just two weeks before the search warrant was executed. " Authorities said they also found additional images and videos of child sexual abuse material on devices in the home and messages discussing the materials. Court papers allege a chat message from an account linked to Edwards that read, "Hey brother, Id love to perv but into most all jiust not into babies. 5+ is preferred[. ]"
Criminal history, statements and treatment
Edwards told agents he had "no recollection of viewing child pornography, " and he also told authorities he was addicted to methamphetamine, had been receiving treatment and was living off money he made when Squatty Potty was acquired, plus "some Bitcoin. " In an unrelated felony case, he pleaded guilty to drug-related offenses in Utah’s 5th District Court in November 2023 and signed up through a private probation company for two years of supervision.
Squatty Potty business history
Edwards founded The Squatty Potty in 2011 with his mom, dad and brother, the Washington County Historical Society notes. The idea grew after a doctor told his mom that using a footstool to raise her knees on the toilet would help longtime constipation; Edwards fashioned a footstool with a cut-out that could wrap around the toilet base. The family featured the invention on The Doctors in 2012 and then pitched it on Shark Tank in 2014, making a deal with investor Lori Greiner and recording $12. 3 million in sales within three months of the Shark Tank appearance. A Squatty Potty ad featuring the brand mascot Dookie the unicorn amassed 42 million views, and the company reported more than 8 million stools sold as of 2022.
Sale figures and company response
Coverage of the company’s 2021 sale contains differing figures in public accounts: one statement notes Aterian, Inc. purchased Squatty Potty in 2021 for $19 million, while other material notes Edwards and his family sold the company in 2021 for $30 million. Squatty Potty released a statement late Tuesday saying all associations with Edwards "ceased" after the acquisition; references to his family’s role were removed Tuesday from the company's "Our Story" page. In its statement, it was "deeply disturbed by the indictment, " and added, "The nature of these" followed by a truncated line in the record.
Local reactions and community role
Edwards has been a noted presence in southern Utah beyond the business. He helped launch the Kayenta Center for the Arts in 2011 and served as its first director. Several people affiliated with Edwards spoke to press but would not go on camera; those who spoke expressed shock, and one person said they were "absolutely devastated. "
This criminal case remains active. Edwards is 50 years old, is a resident of Ivins, and faces the federal charge of receipt of child pornography tied to alleged activity between March 2021 and November 2025. His initial appearance resulted in a not guilty plea, and he remains held without bail pending further proceedings.
