Robert “Bobby” Edwards, the cofounder of the widely known Squatty Potty company, has been charged with possessing child pornography, according to federal prosecutors. The 50-year-old resident of Ivins, Utah, was indicted by a grand jury on February 10 and subsequently arrested on February 12.
Federal investigators claim that from March 2021 to November 2025, Edwards knowingly received numerous images of child sexual abuse material. The case against him reportedly began when an undercover FBI agent entered an online chat room in March 2021, where participants were viewing child sexual abuse materials. It was during this meeting that Edwards was identified as a participant.
Further investigations revealed that in May 2025, Edwards allegedly purchased additional child pornography using his PayPal account. On November 4, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence, during which they uncovered a cell phone in his vehicle containing multiple videos and images of child sexual abuse material, some of which were downloaded shortly before the search. Additionally, more such images were found at his home.
Edwards has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is currently remanded to the U.S. Marshal Service ahead of a scheduled detention hearing on March 2. If convicted, a first-time offender of these charges could face up to ten years in federal prison.
The Squatty Potty, which Edwards created in 2011 alongside his family, gained popularity after its appearance on the ABC show “Shark Tank,” where it struck a deal with an investor. Following its success, the company recorded impressive sales figures and achieved a valuation of $175 million by 2020. It was acquired by Aterian, Inc. in 2021. In response to the allegations against Edwards, Aterian has firmly stated that they have no affiliation or ongoing relationship with him, describing the allegations as deeply disturbing and contrary to their company values. The firm has also removed any historical references to Edwards and his family from their website, signifying a clear separation from the cofounder’s controversial past.
These developments highlight the serious nature of the allegations and the swift actions taken by law enforcement and the company involved to distance themselves from Edwards as the legal process unfolds.