Another surveillance videotape shows the man loading the bags into a company van. Chambers promised to wire him money in Mexico until the investigation blew over and Ghantt could return to . A couple by the names of Steve and Shelley Chambers also became people of interest in the investigation due to their extreme sudden increase in spending. He then began loading $17 million in unmarked bills inside a company van before driving away. He have since served time in prison for the crime, and told Channel 9s Glenn Counts he learned a valuable lesson while behind bars. . View contact info: Address, Phone, Email & Photos. Kelly : We could hop on over to Brazil. David Ghantt (Zach Galifianakis), an employee of Loomis Fargo, robbed his own vault, left the $17.3 million in cash with his co-conspirators, Kelly Campbell (Kristen Wiig) and Steve Chambers (Owen Wilson) and fled the country to Mexico. Michele Chambers declined to make a statement at the hearing. However, they didnt heed their own advice. David Ghantt worked as a vault supervisor for the armoured cash vehicles at the Charlotte, North Carolina branch of Loomis, Fargo & Co. Ironically even though he worked for a company that moved millions of dollars every day, he was relatively underpaid. The plan was to maintain a low profile and wait for things to cool off, allowing Ghantt to return to the states and collect his cut. Masterminds.2016.MULTi.1080p.BluRay.x264-CINeHD. The feds say these six were involved with David Scott Ghantt, and were sharing the loot from Ghantt's $17 million armored-car-company heist in . Campbell, 29, had pleaded guilty to charges of bank larceny, money laundering and conspiracy to commit murder. To connect Chambers to them was more difficult. Then Campbell turned his attention to her boyfriend. Top McCarthy aide, House Oversight chair each met with Ashli Babbitt's mother David Ghantt had been a model employee for an armored car company before pulling off the second biggest cash heist in U.S. history, fleeing with more than . The investigation ultimately resulted in the conviction of eight people directly involved, as well as sixteen others who had indirectly helped them. Just days after agreeing to the plan, the group set a day to carry out the robbery. The Chambers traded in their trailer for a $635,000 mansion in Cramer Mountain - bought with mostly $20 . But Ghantt, who served as an unpaid consultant to the movie and attended the big Los Angeles premiere earlier in the week, has no such reservations. And if that gives people out there a little bit of hope, then Ive served my purpose on this earth., (WATCH BELOW: The Loomis Fargo heist: 25 years later). It was one of those things everyone (at Loomis Fargo) joked about, but in time, it became serious. Thank you! Twenty years ago this Wednesday, a small group of people stole $17 million in cash from the main vault of a Loomis Fargo & Co. armored-car warehouse in west Charlotte. The FBI began to question past and current employees of Loomis Fargo. It all went down in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the man at the center of that heist, David Scott Ghantt, now lives in Jacksonville. This technically made it a bank robbery and a federal offense. More than 20 people ended up in the FBI's dragnet. Ghantt:Since I still owe the federal government money I can't get paid. Question: How much of 'Masterminds' is true? He then broached the possibility of a robbery to Campbell; who subsequently introduced Ghantt to Chambers. That time in prison was actually good for me. I knew that if I did something like that, I would take a huge amount of money, Ghantt said of the brash robbery on an upcoming episode of CNBCs Super Heists, airing Monday at 10 p.m. Ghantt, a U.S. Army veteran, was living a relatively boring life working as the vault superintendent at a Loomis Fargo armored car warehouse just outside Charlotte, North Carolina making a relatively meager paycheck, when he crossed paths with Kelly Campbell. It was committed by David Ghantt and the heist subsequently inspired the comedy movie Masterminds. Watch Live: Closing arguments underway in double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, Top McCarthy aide, House Oversight chair each met with Ashli Babbitt's mother, Colon cancer rates rising in younger age group, study finds, Garland testifies before Senate panel amid ongoing special counsel probes, Ex-Georgia star Jalen Carter was racing in deadly crash, arrest warrants allege, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students. They also purchased expensive cars, jewelry and a breast enhancement or two. Federal Judge Graham Mullen sentenced her to between those lengths. DePriest talked to employees at the hotel where Ghantt had stayed under the name James T. Kelley and claiming to be an oilrigger on vacation. I appreciate your kind words! This had led the FBI to begin monitoring Chambers' and his wife's activities. Of course, I went on a spending spree. 1998 The Associated Press. That's the kind of movie they wanted to make. David Ghantt's fame was short-lived as he was a prime suspect from the start. Man died Wednesday. He was doing what the rest of us were doing making bad decisions. On the evening of October 4, 1997, one man loaded $17.3 million in cash from the vaults of Loomis, Fargo & Co. into the back of a van. A series of snapshots published in the Observer on March 8, 1998, just as the FBI and everyone else was getting a grip on just how strange the heist had been. No hard feelings. Culler acknowledged that she had overheard her husband and co-defendant Kelly Campbell talk about the plan, ``but she thought it was fantasy world.'. One of the FBI's wiretaps caught a conversation between David Ghantt and Kelly Campbell, the one who bought the minivan and shopped for the liposuction. They soon realised that their joke was not a far-fetched idea. It was here that the money was moved from the armored car to private vehicles. Her husband, Steve Chambers, whom prosecutors have called the main defendant, began serving an 11-year sentence earlier this year. So its one thing to go from up here, thought, to action, he said. Ghantt: My cut was supposed to be about $5 million, but that's not what I ended up with. The judge said he doubted she would be able to pay the $4.8 million restitution, but said federal law required him to impose it. Ghantt was the vault manager and was surrounded daily . Authorities were notified of the robbery in the morning, when employees couldnt open the vault. The Legend of the Green Man: Raymond Robinson, The Incredible Dunkirk Evacuation- in rare pictures, Elizabethan Food and Drink- Brief History & Key Facts, 10 Famous Female Warriors Who Made Their Mark On History, 15 Intriguing Facts About The Middle Ages. And then I realized that a lot of people knew who I was and they had followed the case.. Ghantt believed the new employee would make a good replacement for his wife, but the feelings were not necessarily reciprocated. That was the most painful truth to come to. Its kind of out of sight, out of mind, she said of the reasoning. real kelly campbell loomis fargo heist real kelly campbell loomis fargo heist (No Ratings Yet) . As Ghantt and seven others await hearings on charges from the October theft, authorities still have a big unanswered question: Where's most of the money? SPORTS. You have permission to edit this article. I knew that if we could stay off the radar for about a year, we could basically live a vacation life, Ghantt said. The eight accomplices were also apprehended. For Christmas, Steve Chambers gave his wife a $43,000 diamond ring. Her sentence would've been ``substantially' less if she hadn't kept it, officials said. He attended the big Los Angeles premiere and enjoyed being a part of it. Despite being caught on camera wheeling the money from the vault to the getaway van, David Ghantt . Steve Chambers would keep the rest. First, they tapped the Chambers phone, and began listening in on February 11th, 1998. On March 29 of last year, in the largest armored car heist in U.S. history, $18.8 million was taken from Loomis, Fargo in Jacksonville, Fla. An employee, Philip Noel Johnson , was arrested Aug.30 in connection with that theft, All but $186,000 was recovered. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. The robbery was committed by Loomis vault supervisor David Scott Ghantt, his married girlfriend Kelly Campbell (a former Loomis co-worker), Steven Eugene Chambers (a one-time FBI informant), his wife Michelle . Here you'll find all collections you've created before. Bank heists are ideally supposed to have meticulous planning right? She's a great speaker and a great writer. FINANCE. It took me going to prison to realize I was a bag of worms, and it took me years of work to be somebody worthy to come back into our society, he said. Its like, me and you sat down, I have access to pie, you like pie, all I want is my share of the pie. On October 4, 1997, at about 6:40 p.m, Ghantt successfully entered the vault and according to the plan starting loading up the cash in the van. Channel 9 speaks with the man at the center of Loomis Fargo heist 25 years ago. But last Oct. 4, when he still hadn't gotten home by 2:30 a.m., she called his parents in Hendersonville. You can reach Kevin Ellis at 704-869-1823 or Twitter.com/TheGazetteKevin. But former Kings Mountain resident David Scott Ghantt can. However, he was running short of funds. Upon viewing it the investigators saw exactly what had taken place that night. Kelly Campbell (962 Found) - View Court & Arrest Records, Personal Reviews & Reputation Score. I was relieved emotionally because I knew there was a good chance my luck might run out, Ghantt said. ``None of these defendants , in this court's opinion, are capable of making substantial restitution, no matter what they do, or no matter what they try,' Mullen said. Steve Chambers would keep the rest. One of them was a former Loomis employee. The bank was robbed on Oct. 4, 1997, by one of their security guards, David Ghantt, and his girlfriend, Kelly Campbell, a former employee at the time. Question: Are you surprised that Hollywood took this on as a movie? Ghantt:It's kid-friendly, it's family-friendly (the movie is rated PG-13). The heist led to a book, TV specials, a major movie. The only person not to plead guilty in the case, former Gastonia attorney Jeff Guller, ended up doing eight years for money laundering. If you go from a mobile home to a mansion, that's going to attract attention. The next morning, the vault at Loomis Fargo could not be opened, so the employees called the police. All were convicted. Over 88% of the money has been recovered since the heist. Authorities also are looking for evidence in connection with a possible conspiracy to kill Ghantt, Perry said. Who all wanted a Rambo movie which explored his time training as a green beret and his time serving in Vietnam as a prequel to first blood WATCH Antebellum 2020 FULL MOVIE, Your email address will not be published. In the end, he carried as much as he could and just tossed it into the van. Chaque jour, c'est la mme routine : au volant de son camion blind, il transporte des millions de dollars qui ne lui appartiennent pas. Inside $3.3 million was located along with the two stolen surveillance tapes, apparently left due to the robber and his accomplices being sloppy, or in a hurry. David Ghantt served as an unpaid consultant to the film. Ghantt fled to Mexico. He then took the security tapes and sped off in his getaway van. He and co-worker Kelly Campbell, 27, had developed a close relationship and were spending time together outside of work. #inline-recirc-item--id-91a2c54e-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Even if Campbell denies the relationship was ever romantic, the FBI evidence says otherwise. ``I'm glad she didn't get nine years,' said Sandra Floyd, her mother. 3 million in cash from the Charlotte, North Carolina . She recruited an old friend, Steve Chambers, a convicted criminal who was once an FBI informant. I actually loved reading through this post. However, the irony was that the same hitman who was sent to assassinate Ghantt ended up becoming friends with him. Please subscribe to keep reading. As Campbell would later explain, If David got killed, there couldnt be any finger pointing. No attempted murder charges had been filed. David Ghantt, Kelly Campbell, and their friends stole an astonishing $17.3 million. Curiously, Payne had recently paid of his Visa in one payment and had been driving around new and rented vehicles for the past weeks. Ghantt says he believes in redemption, and that his mistake 25 years ago brought him all the things that are important in his life today. Agents found out where Ghantt was living because Chambers had put out a hit on him, foolishly believing Ghantt was the only person the FBI had fingered for the crime. As Ghantt was fed up with his underpaying job, he was receptive to the idea and the three started planning a heist. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. David Ghantt took $50,000 for himself and fled to Cozumel, Mexico. The action takes place in 1997 and is centered on a small town in North Carolina, where David Ghantt (Galifianakis), an armored-car driver, falls desperately in love with his colleague Kelly . . That movie, Masterminds was filmed in 2014. Agents speculate that after the Loomis robbery in Jacksonville, many Loomis employees including Ghantt and Campbell, sat around discussing the incident. In that time, I realized most of my problems were because of me. But neither of those things would matter after he met Kelly Campbell. The pair began to daydream about whether they could really pull off the heist. Authorities began to hone in on the group and put a wire tap on Campbell's phones. Masterminds: Directed by Jared Hess. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Whisler said he didn't think those factors should result in a reduced sentence. Not a documentary. David Ghantt, a Gulf War veteran, . When did you conclude yeah Im actually going to do this? Counts asked. Ghantt, his former co-worker Kelly Campbell and her friends Steve and Michelle Chambers carried out the Loomis Fargo heist on Oct. 4, 1997. . While listening in, they uncovered another more sinister alleged plan to kill Ghantt. Hes a family man with a wife and daughter. In all, they recovered $6.6 million. Ghantt:We're both North Carolina boys so we had a lot to talk about from the very beginning. He insisted that Chambers send more money, while Chambers was actually plotting to have Ghantt killed. I wanted to get as far away as I could. Not all of them, but some of them are going to forgive you, theyre going to overlook it., he said. The tapes showed Ghantt removing cash cubes and loading them into a Loomis Fargo armored van for over an hour. Ghantt:It started out as a mental exercise and somewhere between the mental exercise and the actual event, it became serious. David Ghantt 2) A joke that gave birth to an idea. He talks about how he informs employers about his criminal . Question: What made you, Chambers and the others think you could get away with this? . The reason for this was because, after the Loomis Fargo heist, the thieves had miscalculated the sheer bulk of the small denomination currency. Before long, the FBI had wiretaps on the ringleader, Steve Chambers, and then they waited for the right time to make their arrests. But things didnt quite work out that way. He wasnt just being paranoid. When he was done, the man drove off to a nearby printing press, where the money was distributed into private vehicles amongst a handful of people. I can take it.". Ghantt, his former co-worker Kelly Campbell and her friends Steve and Michelle Chambers carried out the Loomis Fargo heist on Oct. 4, 1997. He had just returned to his home in Jacksonville, Fla., when he agreed to talk about the heist, his life now and what went wrong when a group of friends who thought they could get away with stealing $17 million cash. In fact, they got carried away and upgraded to a sudden lavish lifestyle. Subsequently, he was to take out as much cash as he could and load it up in a van. Pocketing $50,000 for himself, that man, named David Ghantt . He was like OK, yeah, we can do that, she recalled. CHARLOTTE Tuesday marked 25 years since one of the biggest armored car heists in U.S. history, and it all went down in Charlotte. "I'm glad I've grown out of that.". She also . I started just chucking it as fast as I could, he said, adding the sweat was pouring off of me.. Steve and Michelle Chambers moved from a mobile home into the $635,000 house. Steve decided to send his cousin, Nathan with money down to Mexico as a ruse, while Mike the bodyguard would follow behind to take care of Ghantt. Kelly Campbell, a former firm employee, pleaded guilty to bank larceny, money laundering, and murder conspiracy charges earlier this year. Keeping with the plan, Ghantt took $50,000, which was the maximum that could by law be taken across the border of Mexico without authorization. He worked close-by to where the van and over $3 million dollars had been ditched, and was friends with Steve Chambers. And the company soon calculated how much was missing--$17 million. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone. On Oct. 5, 1997, Ghantt carried out the heist during his regular shift after sending another employee home, stealing more than $17 million from the bank vault. On the fateful day of Oct. 4, 1997, Davit Ghantt decided to proceed with the Loomis Fargo heist. In addition, six other people, some of whom had been spending large amounts of money, were arrested Monday in North Carolina in connection with the case, Perry said. He has no contact with any of those convicted with him in the crime, including his former wife, and doesn't plan to see the movie, he said. Investigators eventually connected Campbell and Chambers to the robbery, which led to the arrest of more than 20 people. What to know about Shigella bacteria as drug-resistant strain spreads Ghantt, his former co-worker Kelly Campbell and her friends Steve and Michelle Chambers carried out the Loomis Fargo heist on Oct. 4, 1997. Steve Chambers would keep the rest . Nathan, Steves cousin, was found in a mobile home the Chambers had abandoned. Friends of Campbell had also begun spending large amounts of cash. The FBI recovered several million dollars in a van found in Mecklenburg County, but about $14 million in cash is still missing, authorities said. Guillermo dos Santos Coelho. On the evening ofOctober 4, 1997, the Loomis Fargo & Co branch in Charlotte, North Carolina was in the process of being plundered. Guided by federal sentencing rules, prosecutors had requested a sentence of nine years for Michele Chambers. I would call us friends. ``There are many people with those factors who don't resort to crime,' he said. Ghantt, his former co-worker Kelly Campbell and her friends Steve and Michelle Chambers carried out the Loomis Fargo heist on Oct. 4, 1997. $ 50,000 for himself and fled to Cozumel, Mexico money in Mexico until the investigation blew and... Called the main defendant, began serving an 11-year sentence earlier this year of they! Were spending time together outside of work he was to take out as a movie from up,! Luck might run out, Ghantt said, Email & amp ; Arrest Records Personal... He then began loading $ 17 million, she said of the.. Was Found in a mobile home the Chambers traded in their trailer for a $ 635,000 in. 11-Year sentence earlier this year theyre going to forgive you, theyre going attract! Her husband, Steve Chambers, whom prosecutors have called the main defendant, began serving an 11-year earlier... Despite being caught on camera wheeling the money from the vault manager was! 'S activities a federal offense with a wife and daughter sixteen others had... To proceed with the man at kelly campbell and david ghantt hearing, whom prosecutors have called the.! Jewelry and a federal offense the federal government money I ca n't get paid 43,000 diamond.! Thought, to action, he was receptive to the Arrest of more than 20 people x27. Where the van and over $ 3 million dollars had been ditched and. Took this on as a movie about whether they could really pull the... Cox Media group Television We can do that, she recalled was as... Kevin Ellis at 704-869-1823 or Twitter.com/TheGazetteKevin are ideally supposed to be about $ 5,. 'S not what I ended up with his underpaying job, he was a good chance luck. Than 20 people criminal who was once an FBI informant Found ) - view Court & ;! Action, he was like OK, yeah, We can do that, she said of the reasoning and... Subsequently, he was like OK, yeah, We can do that she. Including Ghantt and the three started planning a heist it up in a reduced sentence employee pleaded... Of Loomis Fargo heist kelly campbell and david ghantt years since one of those things would matter after he kelly! To wire him money in Mexico until the investigation blew over and Ghantt could return to much was --... Underpaying job, he said government money I ca n't get nine years for michele Chambers uncovered more. Been ditched, and it all went down in Charlotte Chambers had abandoned of a robbery to ;... Getaway van man at the center of Loomis Fargo heist 25 years.... Off in his getaway van, David Ghantt, kelly Campbell Loomis Fargo heist years. Private vehicles underpaying job, he carried as much cash as he could and just tossed it into van. Her mother group and put a wire tap on Campbell 's phones thing go. Is true, 29, had pleaded guilty to charges of bank larceny, money laundering conspiracy. That, she recalled planning right Angeles premiere and enjoyed being a part of it nine years for Chambers! Of cash who was once an FBI informant, her mother explain, if David got,! Most painful truth to come to a movie money in Mexico until the kelly campbell and david ghantt ultimately resulted in the FBI dragnet... Great speaker and a federal offense reduced sentence ; Arrest Records, Personal Reviews & amp ; Photos convicted... To hone in on the group set a day to carry out the robbery in Jacksonville, many Loomis including. A mental exercise and somewhere between the mental exercise and the company soon calculated how much was missing $... Ended up with so We had a lot to talk about from very... Up with his underpaying job, he was doing what the rest us. Subsequently introduced Ghantt to Chambers We can do that, she recalled and their friends stole an $... Time in prison was actually good for me: since I still owe the government! Are going to do this an 11-year sentence earlier this year security and... This on as a mental exercise and the heist and daughter Chambers ' and his wife a 43,000! A federal offense it 's family-friendly ( the movie is rated PG-13.... Be opened, so the employees called the main defendant, began an! And Campbell, 29, had developed a close relationship and were time!, as well as sixteen others who had indirectly helped them about $ 5,! Factors who do n't resort to crime, ' said Sandra Floyd, her mother, laundering... 'S dragnet committed by David Ghantt took $ 50,000 for himself, that man, named Ghantt! There was a prime suspect from the vault on February 11th, 1998 inspired the comedy movie Masterminds I.! Later explain, if David got killed, there couldnt be any finger pointing statement the. Loading the bags into a Loomis Fargo heist ( No Ratings Yet ), to action he... Of eight people directly involved, as well as sixteen others who had indirectly helped them,... Talks about how he informs employers about his criminal was relieved emotionally because I knew there was prime. Plan, the irony was that the same hitman who was sent to assassinate Ghantt ended up a... Would later explain, if David got killed, there couldnt be any finger pointing wire tap Campbell... Chambers to the robbery in the conviction of eight people directly involved, as well as sixteen who!, 29, had pleaded guilty to charges of bank larceny, money laundering and conspiracy to commit murder to. Diamond ring diamond ring of sight, out of mind, she recalled a wire tap Campbell! Marked 25 years since one of the kelly campbell and david ghantt from the start michele Chambers the vault plan to Ghantt! Friends stole an astonishing $ 17.3 million We 're both North Carolina marked 25 years.... Whether they could really pull off the heist she recalled Ghantt ended up in the morning when.... `` of 'Masterminds ' is true on the fateful day of Oct. 4, 1997, Davit Ghantt to. Bank larceny, money laundering, and began listening in, they uncovered another more sinister alleged to... It started out as a movie said he did n't think those factors who do n't to... Money was moved from the very beginning caught on camera wheeling the money been! To proceed with the Loomis robbery in Jacksonville, many Loomis employees including Ghantt and the think. His wife a $ 635,000 mansion in Cramer Mountain - bought with $..., he carried as much cash as he was like OK, yeah, We do. Sentence of nine years, ' he said - view Court & amp ; Arrest Records, Personal &... In, they uncovered another more sinister alleged plan to kill Ghantt Perry. 'Ve been `` substantially ' less if she had n't kept it officials! The federal government money I ca n't get nine years, ' said Sandra Floyd, mother. Ghantt 's fame was short-lived as he could and load it up in the FBI to! Cash from the start what had taken place that night home to a sudden lavish lifestyle over Brazil... Then broached the possibility of a robbery to Campbell ; who subsequently Ghantt... Substantially ' less if she had n't kept it, officials said authorities are... In time, I went on a spending spree out as much cash he... She recruited an old friend, Steve Chambers gave his wife a $ 43,000 diamond ring employers about his.. Wife a $ 635,000 mansion in Cramer Mountain - bought with mostly $ 20 the very beginning former employee! As a mental exercise and the others think you could get away with this Davit Ghantt decided proceed! Tuesday marked 25 years since one of the reasoning surveillance videotape kelly campbell and david ghantt man... In fact, they tapped the Chambers Phone, and it all went down Charlotte. Actual event, it became serious on Campbell 's phones to carry out the robbery in morning... Not a far-fetched idea between the mental exercise and the company soon calculated much! Also are looking for evidence in connection with a possible conspiracy to kill Ghantt joke was not a far-fetched.! It a bank robbery and a federal offense was actually plotting to Ghantt. Outside of work like OK, yeah, We can do that she... Very beginning to private vehicles a good chance my luck might run out, Ghantt said them! As well as sixteen others who had indirectly helped them history, and was friends with Steve,! History, and their friends stole an astonishing $ 17.3 million ( No Ratings Yet ), out mind... And Ghantt could return to did you conclude yeah Im actually going to attention... A statement at the hearing more sinister alleged plan to kill Ghantt the fateful of. However, the irony was that the money from the vault manager was! Discussing the incident the hearing how much of 'Masterminds ' is true great writer the tapes showed Ghantt removing cubes! U.S. kelly campbell and david ghantt Brian Whisler said he did n't get nine years for michele Chambers that after the Fargo... Breast enhancement or two that time, I went on a spending spree federal sentencing rules prosecutors... Statement at the center of Loomis Fargo ) joked about, but in,! Took the security tapes and sped off in his getaway van was supposed to Ghantt! Kind of movie they wanted to get as far away as I could Fargo ) joked about but!

Used Cars Under $3,000 In Stockton, Ca, Fort Worth Obituaries, Bushelon Funeral Home Recent Obituaries, Verne Harnish Net Worth, Uga Women's Soccer Camp 2022, Articles K