Social media influencer pleads guilty after prank videos at Arizona Chipotle, other businesses

An Arizona social media influencer who racked up millions of views by posing as an employee and staging disruptive takeover attempts of local businesses has pleaded guilty to criminal impersonation .

Heston James Cobb, who posts online as "Heston James," entered the plea Friday.

Tempe police said Cobb led a group of men into businesses while dressed as employees, went into employee-only areas and refused to leave when asked.

In one video, Cobb wore a Chipotle Mexican Grill shirt and told employees he was going to "clean house" before a group of men in dark shirts poured into the restaurant and ignored requests to leave.

POPULAR AMUSEMENT PARK BANS GUEST FOR LIFE AFTER ROLLER COASTER STUNT VIRAL VIDEO One man posing as an employee even cleaned a tabletop with a mop.

Cobb, who was 21 when he was arrested in July 2025, was tied to pranks at Chipotle, Pep Boys, Hyland Auto Repair, Big Brand Tire & Service and Jiffy Lube, police said.

The incidents took place between March and July 2025, with Cobb acting as the "leader" and telling the others to begin "working" after they entered the businesses, according to police.

Videos of the pranks were posted to Cobb’s social media accounts, where they drew millions of views and potentially made large amounts of money, police said.

Detectives began linking the cases after several of the pranks happened in Tempe in early July.

Police eventually identified Cobb as the man behind the Heston James social media accounts.

Cobb was arrested at his home on July 23, 2025.

He was booked on one count of third-degree burglary, two counts of criminal impersonation, five counts of disorderly conduct and five counts of criminal trespass.

YOUTHS ACCUSED OF BREAKING INTO NYC CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY BUILDING IN LATEST VIRAL 'SPEEDRUNNING' TREND Fox News Digital reached out to Cobb’s attorney, Vicki Lopez, for comment through the Rosenstein Law Group but did not immediately hear back.

Steve Chucri, president of the Arizona Restaurant Association, told The Associated Press he hopes Cobb’s punishment is "severe" enough to discourage others from trying similar stunts.