Robbery, Inc. - The Man, The Myth, The Legend: Part 1

In this episode of Robbery, Inc., host Madison Hogan delves into the twisting investigation behind the 1974 Cobb Exchange Bank burglary. As local law enforcement traced false names, mysterious vehicles, and unusual purchases, a tangled web of suspects began to emerge. What started with a phony hair salon and a tunnel dug beneath Roswell Street soon pointed to a cast of professional criminals operating under layers of aliases.

At the center of it all was Morris Lynn Johnson, a fugitive with a long criminal history and a knack for slipping through the system. Through eyewitness testimony, composite sketches, and fingerprints, authorities slowly connected Johnson to the crime, along with his new wife Laura Kay, fellow bank robber Leslie Carl Fuller, and the infamous escape artist J. Paul Scott. Despite a detailed police investigation and early arrests, the case was quickly handed off to the FBI, and from there, the paper trail thins.

By 1976, Johnson was no longer just a suspect. He had escaped from federal custody not once but twice and was officially added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list. His involvement in multiple bank robberies across state lines, along with his repeated escapes, turned him into a living legend among fugitives. However, while his name finally surfaced in the press, many questions remained unanswered, including the identity of one final suspect and how Morris Lynn Johnson continued to manage his disappearance.

In this episode of Robbery, Inc., host Madison Hogan unpacks the origin story of Morris Lynn Johnson, the man behind the Cobb Exchange Bank burglary. As investigators piece together a trail of fake names, stolen vehicles, and eyewitness accounts, Johnson emerges as a career criminal with a growing rap sheet and a talent for escape. His actions would soon land him on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list.