You probably remember the video. It was 2016, and the Houston heat was already thick when two guys decided to turn a busy intersection into a literal playground. Edward Gonzalez and Roland Zepeda Jr didn't just walk into traffic; they brought a plastic kids' basketball hoop, a ball, and a whole lot of audacity to the Broadway intersection off the Gulf Freeway.
Cars honked. Drivers fumed. The internet, predictably, went absolutely nuclear.
But while the world was busy hitting "share" on the viral clip of them shooting hoops in the middle of a traffic jam, the real story was unfolding behind the scenes. It wasn't just a harmless prank gone wrong. It was the beginning of a legal avalanche that would involve felony charges, multiple arrests, and a very awkward reckoning with the Houston Police Department.
The Stunt That Put Edward Gonzalez and Roland Zepeda Jr on the Map
The video was posted under the Instagram handle "My House is Dirty." It showed Edward Gonzalez and Roland Zepeda Jr—cousins who seemed to have a penchant for "clout" before that was even a standard term—running out into the lanes. They set up the tiny hoop and started playing 1-on-1 while a line of cars grew behind them.
Honestly, it looked like a scene from a low-budget comedy.
Except the people in those cars weren't laughing. Houston traffic is a nightmare on a good day. Adding a full-court press to your morning commute is a recipe for disaster. The video eventually made its way to the desk of HPD investigators. They weren't amused. Within weeks, the "fun" of the viral moment turned into the reality of a Class B misdemeanor charge for obstructing a roadway.
Why the Basketball Game Was Just the Tip of the Iceberg
If this had just been about basketball, it might have ended with a fine and some community service. It didn't.
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When police started looking into Edward Gonzalez and Roland Zepeda Jr, they found much more than just a viral video. The spotlight they craved became a flashlight for detectives.
Take Roland Zepeda Jr, for example. Shortly after the video blew up, someone recognized him. Not as a basketball star, but as a suspect in a theft case. Suddenly, Zepeda was facing felony charges for allegedly stealing high-end cameras. To make matters worse, he had an outstanding warrant for a DWI in Travis County.
Then you have Edward Gonzalez.
While the basketball stunt was a misdemeanor, Gonzalez was allegedly living a much higher-stakes life. Investigators linked him to a massive theft at the Memorial City Mall. Specifically, he was accused of walking out with nearly $8,000 worth of expensive headphones from an Apple store.
Think about that for a second. You go viral for a silly prank, and in the process, you hand the police a high-definition photo of your face while you’re already wanted for major thefts.
It’s the definition of a self-own.
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The Courtroom Reality Check
By August 2016, the bravado was gone. Edward Gonzalez pleaded guilty to the obstruction charge. He was sentenced to 110 days in the Harris County Jail.
Roland Zepeda Jr’s path was a bit more complicated. He appeared in court facing a mountain of issues:
- The obstruction of a highway charge.
- The camera theft allegations.
- Evading arrest.
- The previous DWI warrant.
During his initial hearings, the judge wasn't exactly in a lenient mood. Bond was denied at one point. Zepeda did eventually apologize to the public, telling reporters that he "didn't think it was okay" but he "thought it was funny." He claimed he didn't want to hurt anyone.
But in the eyes of the law, intent doesn't always matter when you're blocking an ambulance or a mother trying to get her kids to school.
Where Are They Now?
Fast forward a few years, and the names Edward Gonzalez and Roland Zepeda Jr still pop up in the context of "influencer" culture and its consequences. Interestingly, they didn't just disappear. In 2021, they were spotted on the red carpet at the WWE SummerSlam after-party in Las Vegas.
They’ve managed to maintain a following under their "My House is Dirty" brand. It’s a strange trajectory. They went from being the most hated guys in Houston traffic to attending high-profile entertainment events.
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It raises a bigger question about our current era. Does "bad" attention actually exist anymore? For these two, the viral infamy of 2016 seems to have been the fuel for a long-term social media presence.
Lessons From the Gulf Freeway Fiasco
If there is anything to learn from the saga of Edward Gonzalez and Roland Zepeda Jr, it’s that the internet never forgets. And the police definitely don't forget if you give them a reason to look at you.
Basically, don't commit crimes if you plan on becoming a public figure.
If you're a creator or someone looking to make a splash online, here is the reality check:
- Safety is non-negotiable. Blocking a highway isn't just a "prank." It's a genuine public safety hazard that can lead to prison time.
- Background checks are real. If you go viral, people will dig into your past. Every mistake you've ever made will be front-page news.
- The legal system moves slowly but surely. The 2016 case took years to fully resolve through the various theft and traffic charges.
Ultimately, the story of these two men is a time capsule of the mid-2010s "prank" era. It was a time when people were willing to risk everything for a few million views. For Edward and Roland, those views came with a very high price tag.
Whether you think they were just kids having fun or criminals who got caught, you can't deny they knew how to get people talking. Just maybe don't follow their lead next time you're stuck in traffic.
To stay on the right side of the law while building a brand, stick to stunts that don't involve the penal code. You can find plenty of ways to go viral without needing a bail bondsman on speed dial.