Robert Hartheimer, the former CEO of Evolve Bank & Trust of West Memphis, has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to soliciting sex from an FBI employee posing as a 15-year-old boy.
Hartheimer is scheduled to be sentenced on April 3.
Blake Ballin, Hartheimer’s attorney, said Tuesday that the former CEO was not indicted but pleaded guilty to charges laid out in a criminal complaint against him. The guilty pleas were for attempting to produce child pornography and for enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.
The most serious charge carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison, Ballin said.
Hartheimer did not plead guilty to reduced charges and “all the negotiation was done on the front end before they brought the charges,” Ballin told Arkansas Business.
Hartheimer is being held in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service at the Shelby County jail in Memphis.
In a statement, Ballin said, “Today, Mr. Hartheimer formally took responsibility for the offenses he committed. His sentencing will be held April 3. Mr. Hartheimer is hopeful that his sentence reflects not only a reasonable penalty for his regrettable act but also his exemplary professional life and dedication to his friends and family.”
Hartheimer was arrested Oct. 23 at the bank’s Memphis headquarters and was fired as the bank’s CEO the next day.
According to an affidavit filed in the case, Hartheimer messaged an FBI-run Grindr account and inquired about meeting the person for sexual activity. Hartheimer and an FBI employee posing as a boy exchanged messages on Snapchat as well as Grindr. Hartheimer allegedly sent a photo of his penis.
Hartheimer deleted the chats the next day but the FBI employee preserved the chats through screenshots and screen recordings, according to the affidavit. Grindr and Snapchat provided the FBI with information that linked Hartheimer to the chats.
Evolve hired Hartheimer in August after a difficult 2024 in which one of the bank’s biggest partners, California fintech Synapse Financial Technologies Inc., filed for bankruptcy. Evolve was among four banks tied up in litigation over missing customer funds.
Evolve received an enforcement action from the Federal Reserve and suffered a data breach in 2024, as well.
Hartheimer came to the bank with experience as a bank regulator who had worked in the fintech industry. In the days before his arrest, he told Arkansas Business the bank was working with regulators and making “good progress.”
The bank reported losing $8.76 million in net income through the first six months of 2025 and Hartheimer said he expected the bank to lose more before turning the corner in 2026. The bank reported losing $14.09 million after three quarters last year.
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