{"id":225284,"date":"2026-02-26T21:33:03","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T21:33:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/26\/squatty-potty-inventor-arrested-for-child-sex-abuse-material\/"},"modified":"2026-02-26T21:33:03","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T21:33:03","slug":"squatty-potty-inventor-arrested-for-child-sex-abuse-material","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/26\/squatty-potty-inventor-arrested-for-child-sex-abuse-material\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Squatty Potty&#8217; Inventor Arrested for Child Sex-Abuse Material"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 3<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>In the 2010s, Robert \u201cBobby\u201d Edwards invented and co-founded Squatty Potty. <\/p>\n<p>In 2021, the company sold for $19 million.<\/p>\n<p>According to a multi-year investigation and a federal grand jury indictment, Edwards has used some of the proceeds to purchase child sex-abuse material (CSAM).<\/p>\n<p>He has since been arrested. His defense, such as it is, explains very little.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><\/noscript><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_01-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Robert Edwards on Season 6 of Shark Tank\" class=\"wp-image-549440 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_01-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_01-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_01-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_01-728x410.png 728w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_01-960x540.png 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_01-1080x608.png 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_01-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_01.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_01.png\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Squatty Potty inventor Robert \u201cBobby\u201d Edwards made his product a household name before achieving infamy for other, darker reasons.<span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Image Credit: ABC)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-from-inventing-the-squatty-potty-to-a-chilling-arrest\">From inventing the Squatty Potty to a chilling arrest<\/h2>\n<p>Utah entrepreneur Robert \u201cBobby\u201d Edwards, 50, made a name for himself \u2014 and a tremendous amount of money \u2014 with the invention of the Squatty Potty.<\/p>\n<p>From his <em>Shark Tank <\/em>debut, his product became a sensation, selling millions and becoming a household name.<\/p>\n<p>In 2021, the company that Edwards co-founded sold for $19 million.<\/p>\n<p>That was the same year when federal authorities launched an investigation into him, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sltrib.com\/news\/2026\/02\/24\/utah-squatty-potty-creator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Salt Lake City Tribune<\/a><\/em> reports.<\/p>\n<p>The investigation found that he had participated in secretive online groups that viewed, swapped, and purchased photos and videos of the sexual abuse of children.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_05-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Robert Edwards and his mother, co-founders of the Squatty Potty company.\" class=\"wp-image-549443\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_05-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_05-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_05-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_05-728x410.png 728w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_05-960x540.png 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_05-1080x608.png 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_05-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_05.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_05-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Robert Edwards and his mother, co-founders of the Squatty Potty company.\" class=\"wp-image-549443 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_05-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_05-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_05-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_05-728x410.png 728w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_05-960x540.png 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_05-1080x608.png 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_05-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_05.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_05.png\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Years later, \u2018Shark Tank\u2019 revisted Robert \u201cBobby\u201d Edwards and his mother, whose invention was one of the most famous in the show\u2019s history. Squatty Potty was a success.<span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Image Credit: ABC)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>After years of investigating, authorities obtained a federal grand jury indictment for Edwards for the receipt of child pornography on February 10.<\/p>\n<p>Just days later, he was arrested in Washington County.<\/p>\n<p>On Monday, February 23, he pleaded not guilty.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors asked the court to hold Edwards in custody. <\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s likely that they consider him a flight risk, given his considerable financial means \u2014 with even some of his alleged crimes taking place when he was in other countries.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"997\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_02-997x1024.png\" alt=\"Robert Edwards during his first Shark Tank appearance.\" class=\"wp-image-549441\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_02-997x1024.png 997w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_02-292x300.png 292w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_02-768x788.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_02-935x960.png 935w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_02.png 1052w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"997\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_02-997x1024.png\" alt=\"Robert Edwards during his first Shark Tank appearance.\" class=\"wp-image-549441 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_02-997x1024.png 997w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_02-292x300.png 292w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_02-768x788.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_02-935x960.png 935w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_02.png 1052w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_02.png\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">On \u2018Shark Tank\u2019 Season 6, Robert \u201cBobby\u201d Edwards introduced himself and his product to the world.<span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Image Credit: ABC)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-csam-investigators-have-high-burnout-because-they-witness-true-horrors\">CSAM investigators have high burnout because they witness true horrors<\/h2>\n<p>The investigation into Edwards and others in the alleged online CSAM ring sounds nothing short of harrowing.<\/p>\n<p>According to unsealed documents, an agent at one point clicked a Zoom link within the group chat \u2014 taking them into a virtual meeting room where others were watching child sexual abuse videos.<\/p>\n<p>Documents show that Edwards was visible on camera during this appalling scene. Photos of Edwards from his Zoom profile page apparently matched the live footage of him.<\/p>\n<p>Authorities did not simply rely upon his facial appearance to make their case.<\/p>\n<p>They traced his IP address, showing that he was in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Update: Squatty Potty - Shark Tank\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5ZJkpIm7hmk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>According to prosecutors, online payment processors flagged Edwards\u2019 transactions with a UK man named John Carver.<\/p>\n<p>Carver was arrested and ultimately convicted for distributing CSAM \u2014 and for blackmailing buyers.<\/p>\n<p>Apparently, four of Edwards\u2019 payments to Carver were flagged.<\/p>\n<p>Carver apparently had a scheme involving advertising on Telegram, soliciting money through PayPal, and only then providing links to the horrific footage of children\u2019s lives being ruined.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors also said that Carver participated in the Zoom gatherings, where he distributed samples of his abhorrent media catalogue.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_04-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Robert &quot;Bobby&quot; Edwards demonstrates the Squatty Potty on Shark Tank.\" class=\"wp-image-549442\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_04-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_04-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_04-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_04-728x410.png 728w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_04-960x540.png 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_04-1080x608.png 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_04-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_04.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_04-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Robert &quot;Bobby&quot; Edwards demonstrates the Squatty Potty on Shark Tank.\" class=\"wp-image-549442 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_04-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_04-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_04-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_04-728x410.png 728w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_04-960x540.png 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_04-1080x608.png 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_04-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_04.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0226_use_robertedwards_squattypotty_04.png\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u2018Shark Tank\u2019 Season 6 introduced many viewers to the Squatty Potty and its inventory, Robert Edwards.<span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Image Credit: ABC)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In November, law enforcement was able to directly search Edwards\u2019 home. There, they found multiple devices containing CSAM.<\/p>\n<p>This was not a one-time collection. They identified some files that had been downloaded just a couple of weeks earlier.<\/p>\n<p>They also found harrowing messages of Edwards negotiating his personal tastes as casually as a normal person would discuss, say, a taste in drawings or preferences for food toppings.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHey brother, Id love to perv but into most all just not into babies. 5+ is preferred,\u201d read one chilling message.<\/p>\n<p>Edwards apparently denied any \u201crecollection of viewing child pornography\u201d when speaking to agents. He told investigators about an addiction to methamphetamine, which one can only assume will be a factor in his planned legal defense.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2026\/02\/robert-edwards-squatty-potty-inventor-csam-arrest\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reading Time: 3 minutes In the 2010s, Robert \u201cBobby\u201d Edwards invented and co-founded Squatty Potty. In 2021, the company sold for $19 million. According to a multi-year investigation and a federal grand jury indictment, Edwards has used some of the proceeds to purchase child sex-abuse material (CSAM). He has since been arrested. His defense, such [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":225286,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-225284","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-hollywood"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/225284","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=225284"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/225284\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/225286"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=225284"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=225284"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=225284"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}