Squatty Potty founder Robert “Bobby” Edwards indicted on federal child pornography charge tied to squatty potty case
Robert “Bobby” Edwards, 50, the millionaire founder of squatty potty, has been federally indicted and arrested in Utah on a charge of receipt of child pornography. The indictment and subsequent arrest follow a multi-year investigation that investigators say linked Edwards to online meetings, payment transactions and files found on devices seized from his property.
Federal indictment, arrest and initial court appearance in Washington County
A federal grand jury returned an indictment on Feb. 10 charging Robert “Bobby” Edwards with receipt of child pornography; he was arrested in Washington County two days later. Edwards pleaded not guilty during his initial court appearance and was ordered held without bail by Judge Paul Kohler in St. George. The U. S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Utah filed the case in federal court in Utah.
Undercover FBI work and an online meeting room in March 2021
Prosecutors say an undercover FBI agent joined an online meeting room in March 2021 where people were viewing child sexual abuse material on a main screen and that participants were visible on camera, including a user later identified as Edwards. In one session the agent clicked a Zoom link posted to a group chat and entered a virtual meeting room where attendees were watching videos; investigators linked the account to Edwards by matching photos and by an IP address that showed him in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Payment flags in May and links to John Carver on Telegram
In May 2025, PayPal flagged four transactions as possibly related to child sexual abuse materials. Prosecutors say the flagged transactions were 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 is alleged to have advertised illicit content on the messaging app Telegram, sent PayPal links for payment and then links to purchased files; investigators say he sometimes distributed material in Zoom meetings like the one the agent observed in 2021.
Search warrant, devices and recent downloads found in November 2025
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Edwards’ home on Nov. 4, 2025. Agents say they found a cell phone in his vehicle that contained multiple videos and images of child sexual abuse material, some of which were downloaded onto the phone just two weeks before the search warrant was executed. Investigators also say they found additional images in the home and devices containing child sexual abuse material, plus messages discussing the materials.
Chats, personal statements and prior legal issues
Court papers include an alleged chat message in which Edwards wrote, "Hey brother, Id love to perv but into most all jiust not into babies. 5+ is preferred[. ]" The filings say Edwards told agents he had no recollection of viewing child pornography, and that 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 felony offenses in Utah’s 5th District Court in November 2023 and signed up through a private probation company for two years of supervision.
Founding and sale of Squatty Potty, marketing milestones and company response
Edwards founded The Squatty Potty with his mom, dad and brother in 2011, the Washington County Historical Society has noted; the idea followed a doctor’s recommendation that using a footstool to raise the knees on the toilet would help longstanding constipation, and Edwards fashioned a footstool with a cut-out that could wrap around a toilet base. The family featured the invention on a daytime medical show in 2012 and 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 later ad featuring the brand’s mascot Dookie the unicorn drew wide attention and was 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 issued a statement late Tuesday saying all associations with Edwards "ceased" after the acquisition, that references to his family’s role on its "Our Story" page had been removed, and that it was "deeply disturbed by the indictment, " adding in the statement, "The nature of these".
