Robert Bob Hartheimer, the CEO of Evolve Bank & Trust, has been fired after he was caught in an FBI sting operation for allegedly trying to meet a 15-year-old boy for sex. Hartheimer was arrested in Memphis, Tennessee, last week after he reached out to the boy on the dating app Grindr, unaware that he was actually communicating with an undercover FBI agent.
How the Case Unfolded
According to a CNBC report, the operation began on October 19, when an FBI agent created a fake profile on Grindr, posing as a 15-year-old boy. Soon after, a user named “Tomm,” later identified as Hartheimer, initiated contact.
After a brief exchange of messages, Hartheimer allegedly sent an explicit image and wrote, “Hey any chance u would hu with an older and chill guy,” as mentioned in an affidavit unsealed on Tuesday.
Their chat eventually moved to Snapchat, where the two discussed sexual acts. During this conversation, Hartheimer reportedly asked the teen for a picture without shorts and sent a nude photo of himself, writing, “Do u want to trade nudes?” Investigators later confirmed that the “Tomm” account was linked to Bob Hartheimer, CEO of Evolve Bank.
Arrest and Charges
On October 23, FBI officers arrested Hartheimer at Evolve Bank’s Memphis headquarters. He was charged with attempted production of child pornography and transfer of obscene material to a minor, according to court documents.
Sources told the Wall Street Journal that FBI agents in bulletproof vests detained Hartheimer at the bank’s office.
Reactions from the Bank and His Lawyer
Hartheimer’s attorney, Blake Ballin, confirmed that his client had been terminated from Evolve Bank. Ballin said, “Bob’s family is aware of the charges. His family loves and supports him and requests privacy during this difficult period in their lives. We have no further comment at this time.”
Evolve Bank spokesperson Eric Helvie also confirmed Hartheimer’s firing, adding that the incident was a personal matter and not linked to the bank’s business operations. “We are in close contact with the US Attorney’s office and have been assured that this is a personal matter and does not relate to the Bank or its operations in any way. That said, we have offered our full cooperation as they investigate,” Helvie said.
Evolve Bank CEO Bob Hartheimer was dismissed after being arrested in an FBI sting for allegedly trying to meet a 15-year-old boy for sex. He now faces serious federal charges related to child exploitation and obscene material.
