ABC7 Eyewitness News Watch Now A: When you're locked up, you live in an 8-by-10 box and you share that with two other people. Memorial services for Bishop David O'Connell began Wednesday night at VIDEO. Defense attorney Jim Griffin laid out his team's side of the case to the jury for more than two hours, arguing . David Ghantt, who pulled off the Loomis, Fargo & Co. vault robbery in 1997 and was sentenced to seven years in prison for the crime, served as a consultant for the film (in theaters Friday).. But even though he worked for a company that regularly moved millions of dollars, David Ghantt himself was underpaid. Two days later, when the FBI found the Loomis Fargo armored van, they discovered almost $3.3 million in cash left in the back of the van; it was later discovered that the thieves had miscalculated the sheer bulk of the small denomination currency, and that they simply left the cash that they could not take with them in the back of the van. [1], Steven Chambers finished serving his sentence in November 2006. Dont worry, its not drug money.. Will California Save the Iconic Joshua Tree? 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 $17 million in untraceable bills in 1997. Als u niet wilt dat wij en onze partners cookies en persoonsgegevens voor deze aanvullende doeleinden gebruiken, klik dan op 'Alles weigeren'. He was like OK, yeah, we can do that, she recalled. We caught up with David Ghantt about - The Gaston Gazette | Facebook But as Ghantt admitted, the film took some liberties with specific details and characters to make the film funnier. But even though he worked for a company that regularly moved millions of dollars, David Ghantt himself was underpaid. October 1997 Loomis Fargo robbery - Wikipedia Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: PrepScholar 2013-2018. We were in Old Fortwhen they were shooting the movie and went out to eat. ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score, How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League, Is the ACT easier than the SAT? Michele Chambers' sentence was two months longer than that given to David Scott Ghantt, the Loomis employee who removed the money from the company vault on Oct. 4, 1997. Campbell left her job in the summer of 1997, but she would later use Ghantts feelings for her to her own advantage to get him to agree to carry out the multi-million-dollar heist. 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. Si vous ne souhaitez pas que nos partenaires et nousmmes utilisions des cookies et vos donnes personnelles pour ces motifs supplmentaires, cliquez sur Refuser tout. Philosophically, now looking back I wouldnt be who I am now if I hadnt gone through all that, said David Scott Ghantt in an interview with the Observer. David Ghantt attends the after party for the Premiere Of Relativity Media's "Masterminds" on September 26, 2016 in Hollywood, California. Chambers promised to wire him money in Mexico until the investigation blew over and Ghantt could return to North Carolina. A: I'm in dire need for some RO's barbecue and some Tony's Ice Cream. FBI security footage of David Ghantt in the midst of the Loomis Fargo heist. The Army veteran and Hunter Huss High graduate was captured in Mexico five months later when one of the others involved in the theft, Steve Chambers, decided he needed to tie up loose ends by having Ghantt killed. How Did David Ghantt, Kelly Campbell, Steve Chambers Steal More Than Here's whatGhantt says now about the heist that madethe "Cramer Mountain Hillbillies" famous and changed him forever. In 97 me and my wife were just barely scraping by, Ghantt recalled in Mondays episode. The True Story of David Ghantt and the Loomis Fargo Heist, Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Score, check out some of these books on our AP History Exam reading list. David Ghantt discovers the true meaning of adventure far beyond his wildest dreams. Q: You say your time in federal prison changed you. Q: North Carolina native Zach Galifianakis portrayed you in "Masterminds." Meanwhile, Ghantt would take $50,000, as much as could legally be carried across the border without questions, and flee to Mexico. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. If you're trying to make yourself better today, that's all most people care about. Generally, the events of the film are fairly close to reality when they follow the broad details of the case. I was working sometimes 75-80 hrs a week for $8.15 an hour, I didnt even have a real home life because I was never there I was working all the time and unhappy which is understandable considering how old I was at the time. Its 90-minutes of mugging for the camera, but the only people who feel mugged are those that pay to see Masterminds. Degrowth or Debunk: Do Degrowth proponents have a strategy? Do you still have contact with him? $17.3 million in cash was robbed from the Charlotte, North Carolina, regional office vault of Loomis, Fargo & Co. on the evening of October 4, 1997. I'd probably be that infamous gringo living in Belize, kicked back on the beach, fishing and bored out of my mind. He told me they were in the dirt business, so he didn't have to worry too much about me. As a vault supervisor for Loomis Fargo, David had access to the vaults and all the cash within. He and his wife,. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? Campbell was receptive and brought the idea up to Ghantt. Biography Comedy Crime A guard at an armored car company in the Southern U.S. organizes one of the biggest bank heists in American history. The judge said he would recommend that Michele Chambers be given mental health treatment in prison. He made it across the border just as his deception was discovered. The Current TikTok Ban Doesnt Go Far Enough. Two days after the heist, the FBI found the missing van with $3.3 million of cash left in it. The plan to rob Loomis Fargo was spawned by Campbell and her friend Steve Chambers, during a casual bonfire at Chambers home. Of course, the FBI was already aware of Chambers and his free-spending ways, and the murder plot helped federal agents find Ghantt south of the border. David Ghantt : [voice-over] Steve was a petty thief, mostly known for stealing tiny wheelchairs from pediatric hospitals. . But after one visit, she asked a teller "How much can I deposit before you have to report it to the feds?" CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS FROM MASTERMIND MOVIE. Inside the truck, they found Ghantt's ring and surmised this was a sign of Ghantt's intention to end his relationship with his wife. The chief running joke in Masterminds is the Prince Valiant 'do gamely sported by Galifianakis as David Ghantt, . He was angry a lot. Learning about US history? Ghantt added, I really enjoyed the movie. Authorities say Steve and Michele Chambers moved from a mobile home into a $635,000 house three weeks after the theft. 33. I'll take the live one. The Proposed TikTok Ban Goes Too Far. David Ghantt (@DavidGhantt) / Twitter Ghantt was joking in the breakroom with fellow Loomis Fargo employee Kelly Campbell. 'Masterminds' Review - The Hollywood Reporter 'Sister Wives': Everything We Know About David Woolley's Late Wife On Oct. 4, Ghantt sent home the employee he was training and disabled two security cameras near the vault in preparation for the heist. I wasnt attracted to him or anything, but he was a nice guy, Campbell said. And with that, David Ghantt took off for Mexico. In 2020, the television show Super Heists portrayed the heist in Episode 3, "Van Full of Dollars". I realized a lot of things that were wrong with me as a person. The FBI knew they needed to make their move. All but one of the indicted pleaded guilty. One of the best ways to learn more about U.S. history is to make sure youre taking history classes. The next day, Steve and Michelle Chambers, Kelly Campbell, and four others were arrested.[6]. David Ghantt struck up a relationship with fellow Loomis Fargo employee Kelly Campbell, and they continued to maintain contact even after Campbell left the company. mesurer votre utilisation de nos sites et applications. David Ghantt on stealing 17 million dollars from Loomis Fargo (Crime & Entertainment Full Interview) Crime & Entertainment 3.77K subscribers Subscribe 4.8K views 1 year ago David Ghantt. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Zach Galifianakis played David Scott Ghantt, with other roles played byOwen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Leslie Jones, Kristen Wiig and Kate McKinnon. During the hearing, Culler recounted his client's difficult personal life: her parents' divorce when she was 2 or 3 years old; a teenage stay in a Baptist Children's home; a teenage pregnancy; and various medical conditions. Vous pouvez modifier vos choix tout moment en cliquant sur le lien Tableau de bord sur la vie prive prsent sur nos sites et dans nos applications. Chambers also promised to join Ghantt in Mexico as soon as she could, but she admitted to Super Heists she never had any intention of actually making the trip. Though she agreed to cooperate with the government when she pleaded guilty to bank larceny and money laundering in August 1998, Michele Chambers didn't tell the FBI she still had the ring until December, when she turned it in. In addition to her work for PrepScholar, Hayley is the author of Museum Hack's Guide to History's Fiercest Females. Parishioners filled the pews for a memorial mass held for Bishop David O'Connell Wednesday night at the St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Hacienda Heights. Before he decided to steal $17 million from the bank, Ghantt had worked for years as a relatively taciturn and compliant employee. Michelle Chambers received a harsher sentence than Ghantt seven years and eight months because she had violated several bond conditions. 5 min read. He left his wedding ring behind and spent his days spending money on luxury hotels and scuba diving. The odds of you actually getting away with something these days is pretty damn slim. Masterminds (2016) - IMDb Playing upon David's obvious feelings for her, Kelly is the . Harper Beckham and her dad David Beckham dressed in matching black outfits as they headed to a Paris Fashion Week event being thrown by Harper's mom and David's wife Victoria . Project #ShowUs. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. I didnt even have a real home life because I was never there. 20 years ago,on the night ofOctober 4, 1997, David Scott Ghantt loaded $17.3 million of cash from the bank vault in Charlotte, North Carolina he was employed to supervise into a van. He was insecure. What ACT target score should you be aiming for? Ask below and we'll reply! See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. 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. BBC Motion Gallery. While listening in, they uncovered another more sinister alleged plan to kill Ghantt. AMA In October of 1997, I was a vault supervisor for armored truck company Loomis Fargo, when I made off with $17.3 million. Not only was Ghantt the only unaccounted for employee the morning after the heist, there was also footage of Ghantt moving the cash into the back of the Loomis Fargo van. But it was Ghantt, now 47 and living with his wife and daughter in Jacksonville, Florida, who actually took more than 2,000 pounds of cash and just drove away from his job. Todd Williamson/Getty ImagesDavid Ghantt attends the 2016 after party for the Hollywood premiere of Masterminds, based on the Loomis Fargo heist that he helped carry out. The plan was for Ghantt to commit the robbery and then quickly leave the country for Mexico but to leave the bulk of the cash with Chambers. You may email him here, follow him on Twitter, or listen to his weekly TV podcast, Podjiba. David Bragg . American Couple Who Disappeared in Greece Found Dead They received sentences and probation ranging from several years to 11 years and three months in federal prison for Steve Chambers, who was also fined more than $3,500,000. I started just chucking it as fast as I could, he said, adding the sweat was pouring off of me.. SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. Over the years many of his social . Campbell knew theyd need the help of the warehouses vault supervisor, who just happened to have a crush on her, and she called Ghantt to ask for his help. With the plan in place, Ghantt sent a newly employed co-worker home early (reportedly at 6 p.m) who had been assigned to train with him. He also took various measures to change his appearance, such as shaving, after a patron at a restaurant pointed out to him that he "looked like the man who robbed a bank of $20 million. AI Chatbots are Even Scarier Than You Think, DeSantiss Educational Policies Come Right Out of the Fascist Playbook, Erase the Memory to Erase a People? Please subscribe to keep reading. The former star . My name is David Scott Ghantt. But there was just one thing the group hadnt been counting on: the massive weight of that amount of cash. People still laugh when they think of the "velvet Elvis" Chambershad in his Cramer Mountain mansion, or how his former wife showed upat a local bankto deposit wads of cash that she assured the teller was not "drug money.". As the FBI listened in to Chambers calls, they discovered that he was also planning to have Ghantt assassinated, hoping to keep all the money for himself. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points, How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer. Guess what? Retro CharlotteFBI security footage of David Ghantt in the midst of the Loomis Fargo heist. You have permission to edit this article. [1], This robbery was the second-largest cash robbery on U.S. soil at the time, as only seven months earlier, on March 29, 1997 in Jacksonville, Florida, Philip Noel Johnson stole $18.8 million from the Loomis Fargo armored vehicle he was driving.[2]. Masterminds which opens nationwide today (though youd be hard pressed to know that given the decided lack of promotion) is proof again that all the talent in the world cannot salvage a bad script, and not even a good screenwriter can make up for terrible performances. He was released in 2006. Eventually, Ghantt would return to the United States and the full sum would be split up between the conspirators. Chambers had broached the possibility of a robbery to Campbell earlier in the summer. Ghantt was. [citation needed], It was later confirmed by the FBI that more than 88% of the stolen cash had been located or otherwise accounted for. Authorities began to hone in on the group and put a wire tap on Campbell's phones. Chambers was always considered the "mastermind" behind the theft, but he doesn't talkmuch about his Loomis heist days, not even when actor Owen Wilson portrayed him in the 2016comedy about the heist titled"Masterminds.". We were two paychecks away from being homeless at any given time.. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. The FBI investigation was aided by the gang's extravagant spending. I knew that if we could stay off the radar for about a year, we could basically live a vacation life, Ghantt said. She wondered how much she could deposit without attracting the attention of the FBI, so she decided to just ask the teller: How much can I deposit before you have to report it to the feds? she asked. A Comprehensive Guide. At the. 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 Chambers, Michael Gobbies, and four other co-conspirators. ``I wish she'd gotten less. The FBI quickly connected Ghantt to Campbell, who was a former Loomis Fargo employee. so make sure youre taking the right ones for you. Channel 9 speaks with the man at the center of Loomis Fargo heist 25 The only defendant to not plead guilty, Chambers's attorney Jeff Guller, was found guilty of money laundering and sentenced to eight years in prison. What Happened to Steve Chambers After Prison Fitness Center? No rift here! After meeting up with Chambers, Campbell, and some other co-conspirators, Ghantt hightailed it to Mexico with $50,000 in cash in his car. Eventually, Ghantt called in from Mexico, seeking more money, and the FBI officially recognized Chambers as a co-conspirator. Collections. March 2, 2023 - Alex Murdaugh found guilty in the murder of his wife #CLXGaming#CLXRa#evokethegods 1 2 To make a successful getaway, Ghantt had to lift nearly 2,800 pounds of currency. But before thehit could be carried out, the FBI swooped in and arrested Ghantt and the others. Steve Chambers and his wife (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) were a little more difficult to connect to the heist. The police then called the FBI because most of the money handled at the facility belonged to banks, which technically made it a bank robbery a federal offense.[5]. Now looking back, with the life I have now, Ive got a great family, got a great kid. Will Mcintyre/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images. Campbell was another employee at Loomis Fargo and she and Ghantt quickly struck up a relationship, one that Campbell denies was ever romantic though FBI evidence says otherwise, and one that continued after she left the company. I think Zachs a hell of an actor. He was the only employee unaccounted for the next morning, and videotapes recovered at the Loomis Fargo Charlotte office showed Ghantt removing "cubes of cash" and loading it into a Loomis Fargo armored van for over an hour. Until it's gone, you don't appreciate it. When asked what the dumbest thing was that Ghantt spent money on, he admitted: The 4 pairs of boots I bought in one day [shrug] what can I say they were nice and I was impulse shopping.. The True Story of David Ghantt and the Loomis Fargo Heist - PrepScholar David Ghantt Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images It's the little things like that that gnaw on you. ", After successfully tracing Ghantt's phone call, FBI agents coordinated with Mexican police to arrest Ghantt on March 1, 1998, at Playa del Carmen, a city near Cancun. afficher des publicits et des contenus personnaliss en fonction de vos profils de centres dintrt; mesurer lefficacit des publicits et contenus personnaliss; et. "Wells Fargo and Loomis forming armored car company", Last edited on 21 February 2023, at 16:45, Learn how and when to remove this template message, painting of Elvis Presley on black velvet, "FindACase | United States of America v. Steven Eugene Chambers", "The Unperfect Crime | New Dominion Pictures", "Sunday Evening/Late Night September 9, 2001", "Loomis Fargo heist: Q&A with guy who stole $17 million", "MASTERMINDS - Movie Production NotesCinemaReview.com", Ghantt and other gang members arrested in March 1998, Steven Chambers released from prison; announces he is a "retired criminal", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=October_1997_Loomis_Fargo_robbery&oldid=1140756292, Overcoming the mindset that led to the part David Ghantt played in the Loomis robbery and how he started on a new path was the subject of the book, Within days of the robbery, the case was depicted on the television criminal reporting show, An expanded two-hour special episode of the crime documentary series. Campbell used to work for Loomis and continued the friendship with Ghantt, eventually . (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Now, here we are, two years later. Its heavy. For the New York State assemblyman, see. Chambers wife, Michelle, bought a minivan in cash and began taking frequent trips to the bank to make deposits. That 3-carat ring came back to haunt Michele Chambers at Tuesday's hearing. Im like, You need to understand that, that money has been missing for 20 years. Some of the friends and family members received parole, while Ghantt was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison. An elderly American couple who went missing in Greece in late January this year were discovered dead in Taygetos mountain range. 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Nine other relatives and friends were also charged with money laundering, as they had co-signed for safe deposit boxes used to store some of the money; prosecutors opted to charge them on the grounds that they should have known the money was obtained illegally. Masterminds is an atrociously bad comedy, and absolutely everyone is to blame. The problem with the movie, however, is that the talented cast had no idea what the hell they were trying to do. dvelopper et amliorer nos produits et services. Ghantt, in order to conserve this money, curtailed his spending. So he hatched a plan to rob his employers. Masterminds - Zach Galifianakis 'David Ghantt' [On-Set Interview]SUBSCRIBE HERE: http://goo.gl/SrrTlTSUBSCRIBE MOVIE TRAILERS: http://goo.gl/8WxGeDA night gu. The brother of a man killed by a woman now charged with murder in Chambers County said he sees similarities in his brother's case and the case of woman's latest husband's death. He worked fueling airplanes, driving a forklift, and in 1994 he got a job as a vault superintendent at Loomis. I got to eat my meal perfectly, but every 5 minutes, someone wanted to shoot a selfie with Zach or an autograph from Zach. Chambers had known enough to insist that no one blows through a ton of cash immediately after the robbery, but once he actually had his hands on the money, he couldnt follow his own advice. For a time, it was nicknamed "the hillbilly heist" because nearly all of the major players in the case came from small towns around Charlotte. Ill never pay it off on my paycheck, Ghantt said. Will Mcintyre/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty ImagesMichele Chambers 1998 BMW for sale following the prosecutions of the Loomis Fargo heist conspirators. On Oct. 4, 1997, former Kings Mountain resident David Scott Ghantt finished his shift as a vault supervisor for Loomis Fargo in Charlotte. More than 2 million dollars is still missing to this day. Ten days later, the group was indicted for bank larceny and money laundering. I really don't miss that guy. Ghantt, Chambers, and Campbell came up with the following plan: Ghantt would remain in the vault after his shift on the night of the heist, Oct. 4, 1997, and let his co-conspirators into the vault. [3][4] Its Charlotte office would be the victim of David Scott Ghantt and his confederates later that year. The connection to Chambers took more time. 121 90 1,443 Show this thread David GhanttRetweeted C.A. Where ever it was, it is long gone now. Authorities say Steve. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. In total, 24 people were convicted. Unfortunately, he failed to disable the third camera. Chambers would then occasionally wire Ghantt money and see to his basic financial needs; when "the heat was off," Ghantt was to re-enter the U.S. and the money would be split up among all of the co-conspirators. Harper Beckham Attends Paris Fashion Week & Looks So Grown Up Q: Do you appreciate your normal life now more than you would if you hadn't spent years in prison? A movie based on the heist starring Zach Galifianakis, Kristen Wiig, Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones and directed by Jared Hess (the guy who made Napoleon Dynamite) is out now on Blu-ray and DVD. I mean, thats pretty much why I did it. The Loomis Fargo robbery was one of the largest heists in history, with $2 million in stolen funds still unaccounted for. ", The much-faster-than-expected economic recovery thats followed the easing of the coronavirus pandemic has produced several encouraging develo. Ghantt, who had been with the bank since 1994, was promoted from driver to vault supervisor in 1997, where he earned $360 a week and befriended Kelly Campbell (Wiig), who got Ghantt mixed up in the plans for the heist after she left Loomis. How Did A Model Employee Manage To Steal More Than $17 Million - Yahoo! If so,check out some of these books on our AP History Exam reading list. My name is David Scott Ghantt. I stole $17 million, and Zach - reddit So with the assistance of a co-worker and possible love interest as well as a small-time criminal, David Ghantt pulled off the then-second-largest cash heist in U.S. history. When she was a teacher, Hayley's students regularly scored in the 99th percentile thanks to her passion for making topics digestible and accessible. Si vous souhaitez personnaliser vos choix, cliquez sur Grer les paramtres de confidentialit. As Predators' David Poile braces for retirement, his wife reveals their love story.