A Shark Tank star who helped create the popular 'Squatty Potty' was arrested and charged with child pornography offenses, officials said.
Robert Edwards, 50, was arrested earlier this month in Utah after allegedly buying a horde of images of child sexual abuse material, the US Attorney's Office said.
Edwards, who first appeared on the show back in 2011, is accused of purchasing the material between March 2021 and November 2025.
According to the US Attorney's Office an undercover FBI agent encountered Edwards in an online chat room where he was viewing a collection of child porn in March 2021.
As their investigation continued they said that Edwards was suspected of purchasing the material via his PayPal account in May of 2025.
In November of last year a search warrant was carried out at his home, which he shares with his husband and four kids, where authorities seized a cell phone.
According to officials multiple videos and images of child sexual abuse were found on the device, some of which was downloaded just two weeks before the raid.
Edwards, seen here on Shark Tank, was arrested earlier this month after allegedly buying image of child sex abuse online
Edwards is seen here alongside his family attending an award ceremony in New York City in 2016
After law enforcement searched other devices they found further disturbing material, they said.
He was formally charged with receipt of child pornography and pleaded guilty during his first court appearance. He is being held without bail.
The Squatty Potty was founded alongside his mother Judy to fight her constipation issues, with the duo successfully pitching the footstool to investor Lori Greiner.
The stool is designed to ease bowl movements after Judy was told to raise her knees while on the toilet.
A follow up Shark Tank that aired in 2020 valued the company at $175 million and Edwards sold his stake the year after.
In a statement shared to the Squatty Potty site the owners of the firm said: '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.
According to the US Attorney's Office an undercover FBI agent encountered Edwards in an online chat room where he was viewing a collection of child porn in March 2021
Edwards home in Ivins, Utah, is pictured here. Authorities raided the home and found disturbing material on devices, they said
'He is not an employee, a partner, or a stakeholder in our company. Any claims to the contrary are categorically false.
'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.'
