Robert Edwards, the entrepreneur who turned a simple bathroom stool into a Shark Tank sensation, now faces a shocking downfall after federal authorities allege he participated in a child pornography ring and purchased illegal material through his PayPal account.
Court documents reveal an undercover FBI agent infiltrated a group chat in March 2021 where users were sharing child sexual abuse material—and Edwards was allegedly an active participant. The investigation escalated when authorities discovered he reportedly used his PayPal account in May 2025 to purchase additional illegal content.
Robert Edwards and Judy Edwards during their 2014 Shark Tank pitch that launched Squatty Potty into mainstream success. ABC
The evidence mounted when law enforcement executed search warrants on Edwards' person, vehicle, and home. According to charging documents, they found multiple videos and images of child pornography on a cell phone in his car, with additional material discovered on other devices at his residence.
Edwards has pleaded not guilty to all charges, with his detention hearing scheduled for March 2 in St. George, Utah. He has not responded to requests for comment from TheEntBase.
The allegations stand in stark contrast to Edwards' public persona as the innovative founder who, alongside his mother Judy, created the Squatty Potty—a specialized footstool designed to improve bowel movements by altering toilet posture. Their 2014 Shark Tank appearance proved transformative, securing a $350,000 investment from Lori Greiner and catapulting sales into the millions.
The company that now owns Squatty Potty, Aterian, has issued a forceful statement distancing itself from Edwards: "Aterian has no affiliation, partnership, or ongoing relationship with Mr. Robert Edwards. Edwards was part of a group, including private equity firms, that sold specific assets to Aterian in a one-time transaction in 2021. Following the completion of that acquisition, all associations with Edwards and his family ceased. He is not an employee, a partner, or a stakeholder in our company."
The statement continued with strong condemnation: "We are deeply disturbed by the indictment against Edwards. The nature of these allegations is abhorrent and wholly inconsistent with our company’s values. While the family was previously referenced on our website in a historical context, we have removed those references. They have no role in our brand’s present or future."
The case represents one of the most dramatic falls from grace in Shark Tank history, transforming a beloved entrepreneurial success story into a federal criminal investigation that could result in decades of imprisonment if Edwards is convicted.
