**ST. GEORGE, UT — **The entrepreneur who built a $175 million empire on bathroom health is now behind bars, facing federal charges that have shocked the business world.
Robert "Bobby" Edwards, the 50-year-old co-founder of Squatty Potty, was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 10, 2026, for his alleged involvement in an online child exploitation network.
Edwards, who famously pitched his invention to Lori Greiner on Shark Tank, was arrested in Washington County on February 12.
During his initial court appearance, he pleaded not guilty to charges of receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
**The FBI Investigation: "Visible in the Meeting Room"
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah unsealed a disturbing timeline of events that led to the millionaire's downfall:
- **The 2021 Group Chat: **The investigation began nearly five years ago when an undercover FBI agent joined an online meeting room used to trade explicit material. According to the indictment, participants were visible on screen while viewing streamed videos; investigators later identified one of those users as Edwards.
- **PayPal Flags: **In May 2025, federal agents tracked four separate PayPal transactions linked to Edwards that were flagged as payments for child sexual abuse material.
- The Search Warrant: On November 4, 2025, law enforcement raided Edwards' Ivins, Utah, home. They reportedly found a cellphone in his vehicle containing multiple videos and images, some of which had been downloaded just two weeks prior.
Corporate Fallout: "All Associations Ceased"
The Squatty Potty brand, which the Edwards family sold to Aterian, Inc. in 2021 for approximately $31 million, was quick to distance itself from its founder.
In a scathing statement, Aterian emphasized that Edwards has no ongoing role, partnership, or stake in the company.
"The nature of these allegations is abhorrent and wholly inconsistent with our company’s values," a spokesperson said.
The company has since scrubbed the Edwards family’s history from its official website.
What’s Next for Bobby Edwards?
Following his arraignment, U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul Kohler ordered Edwards to be held without bail. He was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
- Detention Hearing: Edwards is scheduled to return to the federal courthouse in St. George on March 2, 2026, at 10:00 AM for a formal detention hearing.
- **Potential Sentence: **If convicted of receiving child pornography, Edwards faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.
The man who once bragged about "proving a lot of people wrong" now faces a legal battle that could result in the rest of his life being spent behind bars.