Squatty Potty founder Robert “Bobby” Edwards indicted on federal charges over child sexual abuse material
Robert “Bobby” Edwards, the entrepreneur behind squatty potty, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Feb. 10 on a count of receipt of child pornography and was arrested two days later in Washington County, Utah. The U. S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Utah says the charges stem from an investigation that spans from March 2021 through November 2025 and has led to evidence recovered in a November search of Edwards’ home.
Indictment, arrest and initial court appearance
Edwards, 50, was arrested on Feb. 12 and pleaded not guilty at his initial court appearance. Judge Paul Kohler in St. George ordered him held without bail. The federal charge filed by a grand jury in the District of Utah is for receipt of child pornography, and the U. S. Attorney’s Office announced the indictment and arrest on Monday.
Undercover FBI agent joined meeting where Edwards was observed
Investigators trace the probe to March 2021, when an undercover FBI agent joined an online group chat being used to trade child pornography and then entered a virtual meeting room a Zoom link where attendees were watching child sexual abuse videos. Participants in that session were visible; prosecutors say one user later identified as Edwards appeared on camera during the screening. Agents linked the account to an IP address showing the user was in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and compared photos of Edwards to the Zoom profile image and live video.
Flagged PayPal transactions and connection to John Carver
In May 2025, PayPal flagged four transactions as possibly related to child sexual abuse material. Prosecutors later tied those transactions to purchases between Edwards and John Carver, a United Kingdom man who was arrested days later and ultimately convicted for distributing the materials and blackmailing buyers. Carver advertised the illicit content on the messaging app Telegram, sent PayPal links for payment and then links to purchased files; prosecutors say he sometimes distributed materials in Zoom meetings such as the one the agent observed in 2021.
Search warrant on Nov. 4, 2025 uncovered files and messages
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Edwards’ home on Nov. 4, 2025 and investigators said they found a cell phone in his vehicle that contained multiple videos and images of child sexual abuse material, some of which had been downloaded onto the phone just two weeks before the search warrant was executed. Officers also reportedly found more images in the home and messages discussing the materials. In one chat message attributed to Edwards, he allegedly wrote, “Hey brother, Id love to perv but into most all jiust not into babies. 5+ is preferred[. ]”
Edwards’ statements to agents and prior drug case
Edwards told agents he “had no recollection of viewing child pornography, ” and he also said he was addicted to methamphetamine, had been receiving treatment and was living off money he made when Squatty Potty was acquired, plus “some Bitcoin. ” Separately, Edwards pleaded guilty to drug-related offenses in Utah’s 5th District Court in November 2023. Court records indicate he signed up through a private probation company for two years of supervision.
Squatty Potty’s origins, rise, sale and corporate response
Edwards founded The Squatty Potty in 2011 with his mom, dad and brother, the Washington County Historical Society says. The idea came after a doctor told his mother that using a footstool to raise her knees on the toilet would help with 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, then pitched it on Shark Tank in 2014 and made a deal with investor Lori Greiner. Within three months of the Shark Tank appearance the product generated $12. 3 million in sales, and a year later a popular ad featuring the brand’s mascot Dookie the unicorn helped widen the product’s following; that ad has been viewed 42 million times. Aterian, Inc. purchased Squatty Potty in 2021 for $19 million, and the company reported more than 8 million stools sold as of 2022. Squatty Potty released a statement late Tuesday saying all associations with Edwards “ceased” after the acquisition, and that references to his family’s role in the company were removed Tuesday from its “Our Story” page. it was “deeply disturbed by the indictment, ” and added, "The nature of these" — unclear in the provided context.
Edwards has previously promoted the product as one that helps users “get off the toilet, ” and he appeared on Season 11 of Shark Tank. He and his family attended the 20th Annual Webby Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on May 16, 2016 in New York City.
