Willie Sutton: The True Crime Story and Key Facts
Willie Sutton: American bank robber (1901–1980). The documented story, timeline and key facts of the case.
William Francis Sutton Jr. was an American bank robber. During his forty-year robbery career he stole an estimated $2 million, and he eventually spent more than half of his adult life in prison and escaped three times. For his talent at executing robberies in disguises, he gained two nicknames, "Willie the Actor" and "Slick Willie". Sutton is also known as the namesake of the so-called Sutton's law, although he denied originating it.
Why the case is remembered
The Willie Sutton story remains one of the most discussed entries in true-crime history, covered in documentaries, podcasts and books. The summary above follows the publicly documented record.
Text adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Facts reflect the documented public record.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Willie Sutton?
William Francis Sutton Jr. was an American bank robber.
Why is the Willie Sutton case famous?
It is one of the most documented bank robber cases, widely covered by true-crime media.
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