FBI sting on dating app brings down US bank CEO who allegedly tried to meet ‘teen boy’ for sex

US CEO fired after bid to produce child porn, caught by FBI officer posing as teen on dating app

Tennessee-based Evolve Bank & Trust has dismissed its newly appointed CEO, Bob Hartheimer, after he was arrested in an FBI sting that allegedly caught him attempting to meet someone he believed was a 15-year-old boy on a gay dating app.

According to The Wall Street Journal, court documents reveal that Hartheimer, who took over as Evolve’s chief executive in August 2025, was charged with attempted production of child pornography and sending sexually explicit material to a minor.

The investigation began on October 19, when an FBI agent posing as a teenage boy logged into Grindr. A user with the handle “Tomm” allegedly messaged the undercover officer, writing: “Hey any chance u would hu (hit up) with an older and chill guy.” The two later continued chatting on Snapchat, where they discussed sexual acts. The suspect allegedly sent a nude photo of himself and requested one in return.

Investigators traced the IP address linked to the Snapchat account to Hartheimer’s residence in Tennessee, leading to his arrest on October 23 in Memphis.

Hartheimer was charged with attempted production of child pornography and transfer of obscene material to a minor, according to a federal warrant.

Following the arrest, an Evolve Bank spokesperson confirmed Hartheimer’s immediate termination, saying, “We are in close contact with the US Attorney’s Office and have been assured 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.”

Hartheimer’s attorney, Blake Ballin, told CNBC, “Bob's family is aware of the charges. His family loves and supports him and requests privacy during this difficult period in their lives.”

Who is Bob Hartheimer?

Before joining Evolve, Hartheimer had a long career in the banking sector. He previously worked at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), where he oversaw around 200 bank deals between 1991 and 1995. Later, he gained a reputation for turning around struggling institutions, including Sterling Bank, which was sold to Umpqua Bank in 2014.

Evolve Bank has faced multiple challenges in recent years. Earlier in 2025, it came under scrutiny following the collapse of its fintech partner Synapse, which handled payments for several financial apps, including Yotta. The bankruptcy resulted in nearly $100 million in missing customer deposits.

In 2024, Evolve also suffered a major cyberattack that exposed customer data. Although the bank refused to pay the ransom, the stolen information later appeared online.

The federal investigation into Hartheimer’s case remains ongoing.