Who Is Heston James?
Handcuffed. niu niu/Unsplash

Heston James, a prominent TikTok influencer, was arrested on Wednesday, 23 July 2025, in Tempe, Arizona. Known for orchestrating disruptive pranks in local businesses, his actions caught police attention after months of complaints.

Officials say these pranks crossed from harmless fun into criminal acts, causing significant disruption and distress. The arrest followed an investigation into videos James posted online that went viral, drawing millions of views.

Who is Heston James?

Heston Cobb, widely known as Heston James on TikTok, is 21 years old with a following exceeding 1.6 million. He gained fame by posting prank videos where he and his group dressed as employees and entered local businesses uninvited.

His content often featured staged workplace antics that disrupted real operations. The popularity of these clips likely generated substantial revenue for Cobb through social media platforms. Unfortunately, the official TikTok account of Heston James has been taken down after the arrest.

Heston James Arrested for His Pranks

Between March and July 2025, Heston James and his accomplices targeted several Tempe businesses, including Pep Boys, Hyland Auto Repair, Big Brand Tire & Service, Jiffy Lube, and Chipotle. Wearing fake employee uniforms, they gained access to restricted staff-only areas and refused to leave when asked.

'Detectives started to link the cases after a series of these pranks occurred in Tempe at the beginning of July. Diligent police work connected 21-year-old Heston Cobb to the social media platforms as the leader of these pranks,' said the Tempe Police Department via its official press release.

One notable stunt had Heston James posing as a mechanic from 'corporate,' persuading others to crawl under customers' cars, a video that received over 12 million views on TikTok. Another involved a fake cleaning crew taking supplies from Chipotle while real workers called the police.

Nuisance TikToker Faces Multiple Charges

Heston is now facing a range of serious criminal charges stemming from his prank activities. These include one count of third-degree burglary, two counts of criminal impersonation, five counts of disorderly conduct, and five counts of criminal trespass.

Authorities labelled the TikToker the 'leader' of the group responsible for these disruptive incidents. His actions have led to legal consequences reflecting the severity of the offences.

Tempe Police Says Pranks Can Get You Arrested

Tempe Police Officer Jessica Ells condemned the pranks, saying (via the New York Post): 'These videos are definitely not pranks. They are crossing the line from something that's fun and playful into criminal territory. They're breaking laws.'

The police department issued a stern warning to social media influencers that similar behaviour could lead to jail time. Local business owners also hope platforms like Instagram and YouTube will take responsibility for content promoting such harmful actions.

The investigations continue, with possible further charges or arrests expected. This case highlights the risks when online creators blur the line between entertainment and illegal conduct for fame and profit.

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