Archive · 2 Nov 2025
Evolve Bank CEO Bob Hartheimer Fired After FBI Child Pornography Arrest
A bank boss named Bob Hartheimer got fired because the police think he did something very wrong.
The police set up a trick where an officer pretended to be a young teenager on a phone app.
The bank boss talked to this pretend teen and sent bad pictures and planned to meet them.
But it was all a trap by the FBI, and they arrested him at his home.
The bank said they had to let him go right away because of this.
His lawyer said his family loves him and needs privacy.
Bob Hartheimer used to work for another government group and helped save other banks before.
Evolve Bank & Trust CEO Bob Hartheimer was fired after being arrested by the FBI.
Hartheimer is charged with attempting to produce child pornography and sending explicit material to a minor.
An undercover FBI agent posed as a 15-year-old on the dating app Grindr in the sting operation.
Hartheimer allegedly sent explicit photos and discussed meeting for sex, unaware he was talking to law enforcement.
The bank stated the matter is personal and does not involve bank operations, while cooperating with investigators.
- Who
- Bob Hartheimer, CEO of Evolve Bank & Trust
- What
- Arrested and subsequently fired by his employer for child pornography-related charges
- When
- Arrested following an FBI sting operation that began on October 19; fired by the bank afterward.
- Where
- Arrested at his Memphis apartment.
- Why
- Accused of attempting to produce child pornography and send sexually explicit material to a minor while believing he was interacting with a 15-year-old on the dating app Grindr, who was actually an undercover FBI agent.
Prosecution/Investigators
Defense/Hartheimer's Family
Alleged Actions
Prosecution/Investigators
Hartheimer intentionally engaged in illegal activities, including attempting to produce child pornography and send sexually explicit material to a minor he believed was 15 years old.
Defense/Hartheimer's Family
Hartheimer's family loves and supports him and requests privacy during this difficult period, implying a focus on personal struggle rather than admission of guilt.
Relevance to Bank
Prosecution/Investigators
The charges are serious criminal offenses.
Defense/Hartheimer's Family
Evolve Bank stated the matter is personal and does not relate to the bank or its operations, aiming to distance the institution from Hartheimer's alleged personal misconduct.
- CEO Arrested
- Bob Hartheimer
- Employer
- Evolve Bank & Trust
- Charges
- Attempting to produce child pornography, sending explicit material to a minor
- Apprehension Method
- FBI sting operation on dating app Grindr
- Current Status
- Jailed pending trial
- Bank's Response
- Terminated employment, cooperating with investigation