A viral TikTok prankster with over 1.6 million followers is facing felony charges after authorities say he led a months-long spree of disruptive stunts across Arizona – pranks that may have earned him big bucks but could now cost him his freedom.
21-year-old Heston Cobb, known online as Heston James on TikTok, was arrested on July 23 after police linked him to a series of incidents where he posed as an employee at local businesses and filmed chaotic scenes for content.
Between March and July, Cobb and his crew entered shops like Pep Boys, Big Brand Tire, Jiffy Lube, Hyland Auto Repair, and Chipotle, dressed as staff, and stormed into employee-only areas while refusing to leave.
“These videos are definitely not pranks. They’re crossing the line from something fun and playful into criminal territory,” said Tempe Police Officer Jessica Ells. “They’re breaking laws.”
“They are going into these businesses and impersonating the employees. That actually is a felony charge.”
TikToker arrested after viral pranks in Arizona
One viral clip showed Cobb dressed as a mechanic at Hyland Auto Repair, telling staff he was “from corporate” before a van of pranksters arrived and began crawling under customers’ cars. The video racked up over 12 million views.
In another, he entered a Chipotle with a fake cleaning crew, shouted instructions, and began grabbing supplies as real employees yelled at them to leave and called 911.
According to investigators, the content generated millions of views and likely brought in significant income through monetized platforms like TikTok and Instagram. But those views came at a cost.
Cobb is now facing a total of 13 charges, including burglary, criminal impersonation, disorderly conduct, and trespassing. The most serious among them is burglary in the third degree, a felony that can carry nearly four years in prison. He’s also charged with two counts of criminal impersonation, which are felonies under Arizona law, and ten misdemeanor counts stemming from his disorderly and unauthorized entry into private areas.
If convicted on all counts and sentenced to the maximum, Cobb could face up to 9 years and 8 months in jail, along with over $315,000 in fines. While first-time offenders often avoid maximum sentencing, prosecutors may take a harder stance given the repeated nature of the stunts and the fact they were broadcast to millions online.
“This is actually going to get you charges,” Officer Ells said. “Are you ready to face the fact that you could be going to jail for a prank just to get some views?”
The investigation remains active, with police suggesting that more arrests could follow as they identify other individuals seen in Cobb’s videos.
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