The William Johnson Curse: 3 Times 'Florida Man' With The Same Name Made International Headlines
The "Florida Man" phenomenon is legendary, but the name "William Johnson" seems to carry a disproportionate amount of the state's bizarre crime energy. As of December 2025, the moniker has become synonymous with multiple, unrelated incidents ranging from comically inept bank robbery attempts to recent, high-profile management-level burglaries. This deep dive uncovers the most famous cases and provides the latest updates on the men who share this infamous name.
The sheer volume of bizarre news coming out of the Sunshine State often leads to confusion, but the cases of William Johnson stand out not just for their absurdity, but for the strange coincidence of a single name appearing in multiple, unbelievable police reports across different counties and years. Here is a look at the men behind the headlines and the details of their unforgettable arrests.
William Joe Johnson: The Bank Robber Who Googled His Crime
The most globally recognized "Florida Man William Johnson" is William Joe Johnson, whose 2017 arrest became a viral sensation and a staple of the "Florida Man" meme. His story is a perfect blend of desperation and stunning lack of foresight, instantly cementing his place in the annals of odd Florida crimes.
Biography and Incident Profile
- Full Name: William Joe Johnson
- Age at Incident: 26 years old
- Hometown: Pinellas Park, Florida
- Date of Incident: October 5, 2017
- Location of Crime: Achieva Credit Union, Largo, Florida
- Charge: One count of Robbery (Felony)
- Key Detail: Allegedly Googled "How to rob a bank" immediately before the crime.
- Motive: Johnson reportedly told detectives he was short on cash and needed money for rent.
- Arrest Location: Express Inn, Pinellas Park
The Infamous Crime and Investigation Details
The incident began when William Joe Johnson, then 26, walked into the Achieva Credit Union on Ulmerton Road in Largo. According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, he approached a teller and implied he had a weapon, demanding money. He then fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash.
What made the case explode into an international news story was the subsequent investigation. Detectives discovered that Johnson had used his personal cell phone to search for a very specific, and highly incriminating, phrase: "How to rob a bank." This search, performed just moments before the robbery, was a critical piece of evidence leading to his identification and arrest days later.
The Sheriff's Office report noted that Johnson confessed to the crime, stating he had already spent the stolen money on rent and other expenses. Adding another layer of absurdity, he allegedly told investigators he had planned to rob another bank the very next day.
The story became a viral example of the "Florida Man" challenge, where a news headline is created by combining "Florida Man" with one's birthday. Johnson's case is often cited as one of the most unbelievable examples of criminal incompetence.
William "Billy" Johnson: The Manager Who Burglarized His Own Restaurant (Latest Update)
In a separate, but equally bizarre, incident that provides a much more recent "William Johnson" update, a man identified as William "Billy" Johnson was arrested in Bradenton, Florida. This incident, which occurred in the April 2025 timeframe, involves a significant breach of trust at a local business.
Recent Incident Details (2025)
- Full Name: William "Billy" Johnson
- Age at Incident: 43 years old
- Hometown: Bradenton, Florida
- Date of Incident: April 29 (Year implied 2025)
- Location of Crime: Oak & Stone Restaurant, Downtown Bradenton
- Role: General Manager (GM) of the restaurant
- Charge: Burglary of an Unoccupied Structure
- Current Status: Arrested by Bradenton Police Department.
William "Billy" Johnson, who served as the general manager of the popular Oak & Stone restaurant, was taken into custody by the Bradenton Police Department. The charge stemmed from an alleged burglary of the establishment he was entrusted to manage.
Police reports indicate that the general manager, a trusted employee, was arrested in connection with the burglary of the business. The case highlights a different type of "Florida Man" scenario—one involving internal theft and a spectacular fall from a position of authority. The fact that the general manager was the alleged culprit added a shocking twist to the local crime blotter.
The Curious Coincidence of Multiple William Johnsons in Florida Crime
The "William Johnson" name continues to appear in Florida's police reports, suggesting a strange, recurring pattern that adds to the topical authority of the "Florida Man" narrative. The two main cases are not isolated; records show at least one other notable incident involving a William Johnson in Central Florida.
The Lakeland Assault and Battery Case
In a third, distinct incident, a William Johnson from Lakeland, Florida, was involved in a more violent confrontation. This case, documented by the Polk County Sheriff's Office, involved a sequence of serious offenses that resulted in multiple felony charges.
The charges against this William Johnson included Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, stemming from threatening a roommate. The situation escalated when law enforcement arrived, leading to additional charges of Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, Felony Criminal Mischief, and Attempted Escape. This incident, while less viral than the bank robbery, further establishes the name's unexpected prominence in Florida's most unusual crime stories.
Topical Entities and LSI Keywords for Florida Man Incidents
The cases of the William Johnsons are perfect examples of the type of stories that fuel the entire "Florida Man" phenomenon. The constant appearance of bizarre, often poorly planned, crimes across different counties—including Pinellas County, Manatee County, and Polk County—showcases the unique challenges of law enforcement in the state. The common elements often include:
- Incompetence: The bank robber's Google search.
- Betrayal of Trust: The restaurant manager burglarizing his own workplace.
- Escalation: Simple domestic disputes turning into battery on a law enforcement officer and attempted escape.
These stories are often categorized by LSI keywords such as unusual Florida arrests, Sunshine State crime, criminal defense Florida, Achieva Credit Union robbery, and Bradenton Police Department reports. The sheer number of unrelated individuals sharing a common name and a penchant for headline-grabbing crime is a uniquely "Florida Man" coincidence that continues to baffle and entertain the public.
The legacy of "William Johnson" is now permanently tied to the state's reputation for the absurd. Whether it's William Joe, William "Billy," or another William Johnson making the news, the name serves as a reminder that in Florida, reality is often stranger than fiction.
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