Robbery, Inc.

In April 1974, a group of thieves tunneled beneath Roswell Street in Marietta, Georgia, and blasted their way into the Cobb Exchange Bank vault—only to be mocked for escaping with just $1,000. But as investigators dug deeper, they uncovered a far bigger mystery and the story of a career bank robber whose daring heists and prison escapes made him a legend. This is Robbery, Inc. from Georgia Public Broadcasting and the Marietta Daily Journal.  

In 1974, a quiet Monday morning in Marietta, Ga., turned chaotic when a bank vault revealed a tunnel, a blast site, and a daring robbery straight out of a movie. Robbery, Inc. Episode 1: An Explosive Story unearths the mystery of the Cobb Exchange Bank heist and introduces the legend of a master thief whose true identity is just beginning to unfold.

Three men spent months tunneling beneath a busy Marietta street to blow through a bank vault floor undetected. What was initially dismissed as a comical failure soon revealed itself to be a meticulously planned heist with a much larger haul, with a trail of clues pointing to a criminal mastermind.

In the aftermath of the Cobb Exchange Bank burglary, law enforcement follows a trail of tools, receipts, and eyewitness accounts to track down the suspects behind the tunnel job. Former bank president Neil Barfield recalls the shock of discovering the breach, while investigators close in on a man with a far more notorious past than anyone expected. This episode reveals the true identity of one of the most elusive criminals in American history.

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.

In Part 2 of Episode 4, we trace the criminal legacy of Morris Lynn Johnson, a career bank robber and escape artist whose bold heists and prison breaks earned him a place on the FBI’s Most Wanted list. From small-town Indiana to the Cobb Exchange vault in Georgia, Johnson’s story reveals a life of charm, chaos, and relentless pursuit.

In this episode, host Madison Elizabeth Hogan unpacks the rumors surrounding the 1974 Cobb Exchange Bank burglary in Marietta, Georgia, and the long-held belief that safe deposit boxes were the real target. Through interviews, court records, and local lore, she explores how jokes became legend and what the truth may actually be.

Host Madison Elizabeth Hogan sits down with Leah Johnson, niece of Morris Lynn Johnson, to hear her first-hand memories of growing up in a family tied to bank robberies and prison escapes. Leah’s stories reveal the charm, contradictions, and enduring loyalties of two brothers who lived outside the law.

In the series finale of Robbery, Inc., host Madison Hogan delves into the later years of Morris Lynn Johnson, a bank robber whose life was defined by bold heists, repeated escapes, and a strict personal code. Through the memories of his niece Leah and a walk through the streets of Marietta, the story reveals a man shaped by risk, loyalty, and a world that had changed beyond recognition.