The cash was covered with dog food. Collections. As he and Kelly met in a field behind a shooting range to refine the plan, she allowed him to believe she was falling for him. The FBI quickly connected Ghantt to Campbell, who was a former Loomis Fargo employee. I don't blame him.". By now, you probably know the names -- David Ghantt, Steve Chambers and his wife Michelle, and Kelly Campbell. Steve Chambers has told agents the missing cash was stolen from a shed in Lincoln County. From Mexico, David usually spoke with Kelly on the phone once a week, paying with calling cards. "Every time my conscience would start bothering me," Kelly recalled, "I'd smoke another joint and forget about it.". When Steve hears on the news about a recent Loomis Fargo robbery, he hatches a scheme to use Kelly's connection to David to get him to rob Charlotte's Loomis Fargo. Ghantt added, I really enjoyed the movie. LRM: If you had to relive that heist againwhat would you do differently? She was the group's only contact with David, and she was smoking marijuana "like other people smoke cigarettes," she said. Ghantt, who by then was long out of prison, served as a consultant. Kelly, using David's cell phone, kept beeping him. Yes, *that* David Ghantt, lol. "I've learned that I'm a fortunate man," he said. Current price is $11.49, Original price is $14.99. Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: PrepScholar 2013-2018. As of now all these are just allegations contained in court documents. But, thats a huge amount of money that would just disappear. I was like, Okay.. They located Steve and Shelley Chambers in their newly-purchased home at the top of a hill. My name is David Scott Ghantt. Kelly, she says now, was thinking about how happy she would be to send this man far away from her. so make sure youre taking the right ones for you. David Ghantt: The number one question is usually, What made you do it?. The cast included Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones, SNL veterans who would also co-star in the 2016 remake of You look nothing like Zach? Chambers, it turned out, became the biggest source of evidence for the FBI. 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. Ghantt added, I really enjoyed the movie. You've violated that trust. Authorities also are looking for evidence in connection with a possible conspiracy to kill Ghantt, Perry said. In 2017, for example, Paul Burks of Lexington was ordered to pay $244 million to the victims of his worldwide Ponzi scheme, Zeek Rewards. Ghantt sent home a new employee and quickly loaded the money into the back of a bank van. Webdavid ghantt wife nowplombon funeral home obituaries david ghantt wife now. LeVaughn Kelly Campbell (born July 23, 1980 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a former football wide receiver. I was working all the time and unhappy I felt cornered and one day the joking in the break room about robbing the place suddenly didnt seem so far-fetched.. Surveillance tapes and photographs showed a man who the FBI believes is Ghantt taking bags of money and putting them onto a cart in the vault at Loomis, Fargo's offices in Charlotte. Agents began picking up signs that David definitely had help: The abandoned Loomis van with $3.3 million in small bills still inside, and phone records showing that somebody beeped him while he stole the money, using David's own cell phone. . 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. Then, on a mid-September day, as he reviewed a credit card bill, David did some math. What was the number one question? Project #ShowUs. Now worried about both the FBI and McKinney, he spent even more time alone in his room. David Ghantt (Zach Galifianakis) is slowly creeping by in life driving an armored truck.His life is at a stall and hes slowly dwindling down into the trash life that was destined for him. Chambers wife, Michelle, bought a minivan in cash and began taking frequent trips to the bank to make deposits. David was excited, jabbering about their future together. He hated his job, with its 12-hour shifts. Steve tried keys on a side door. By now, you probably know the names -- David Ghantt, Steve Chambers and his wife Michelle, and Kelly Campbell. Thats probably not the best answer to be honest with you. He had an endearing smile, a beautiful wife and two children. About the same time, Kelly and McKinney received phone calls from agents who told them to open their doors. He knew his mother would be traumatized, shocked, and appalled. "I'd been told all my life, money will not make you happy," Kelly said. Scott Grant said he hesitated, but agreed if no guns would be involved. WebRepresentative Daryl Campbell Representative Michael Caruso Representative Jennifer Canady Representative Michelle Salzman Representative Allison Tant Representative Dana Trabulsy Representative Chase Tramont Representative Marie Woodson House Higher Education / Senate Education Representative Jason Shoaf, House Chair Representative '. On the night of October 4, the plan went into action. Everybody seemed stunned. You might as well take part in the conversation. The bash had a Cinderella theme, with a three-tiered cake that looked like a castle. Enforcement of this policy is at the Campbell used part of her share of the money to buy aToyota Siennaminivanin two cash installments. Now he offered to pay him to carry cash to David--Steve said he was a friend hiding out after a bad drug deal, McKinney recalled. ", "Even then . Six other people also were arrested, including a couple who suddenly moved from a trailer to a $635,000 house. display: block; 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 I might even have more these days. "I was thinking, 'They aren't paying me enough,' " McKinney recalled. In early December, Steve and Michele invited relatives to their daughter's sixth birthday party. ". They bought a BMW roadster. Ghantt, his former co-worker Kelly Campbell and her friends Steve and Michelle Chambers, carried out the Loomis Fargo heist on Oct. 4, 1997. Thats my standard answer these days. At the end of one session, they wound up kissing outside the pickup. Campbellwho was married herselfrepresented something new and exciting. Thats some of my work. Former Loomis employee David Scott Ghantt is accused of stealing the money. David Ghantt: Mostly, it concerned for Zach [Galifianakis] to have the right shirt and carrying the right pistol. All Rights Reserved. ". Though he never found the right moment to carry out the hit, McKinney did find time to make a friend--a shady character named Robert, to whom he revealed more than was prudent. That October, the Chamberses' bank accounts ballooned. Another surveillance videotape shows the man loading the bags into a company van. candace faulkner age; water boiling 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 CEO and co-founder of the company that is responsible for Arkane Studios. I even helped them design the set, where he breaks into the vault. At 7:45, David had finished loading. Loomis Fargo, the nation's largest privately held armored- car company, used vans to transport hundreds of millions of dollars a day belonging to banks and other businesses, stocking automated teller machines and storing money in the Loomis vault between deliveries. . Spending years in prison, he said, gave him time to re-invent himself. Working by himself, Ghantt would commit the robbery and then flee for Mexico, leaving the bulk of the cash with Chambers. Sun, sand and beaches are all part of why Jacksonville is a popular destination. Davids crush and former co-worker, Kelly Campbell (Kristen Wiig), approaches David about robbing the very company that he works for.Despite the lack of EDITORIAL. Or does it sit in an offshore account, waiting for a prison sentence to end? In this outrageously entertaining book, Jeff Diamant, the Charlotte Observer's lead reporter on the case, offers the definitive inside account of this astonishing. People did ask questions or they wanted to chat. . You said that was the number two question. He just never had the opportunity. Michele received the best gift of the night. LRM: Do you still have that well-known fame today after being a free man? They were ready to set the van on fire for real. >> PHOTOS: The Loomis Fargo heist, 25 years later Ghantt, his former co-worker Kelly Campbell and her friends Steve and Michelle Chambers, carried out the Loomis Fargo heist on Oct.. All of the primary players got fined millions of dollars --for example, Kelly Campbell was hit with more than $4 million, an amount that she will never come close to paying. Day after day he drives an armoured van filled with millions of dollars. How did they get away with stealing more than $17 million? Burks was also ordered to serve 15 years in prison, limiting his ability to balance his books. Web1997 - David Scott Ghantt (Zach Galifianakis) thought being an armored car driver would be a dream come true. When they painted the cars, they were the wrong shake. Campbellwho was married herselfrepresented something new and exciting. 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. They agreed that after the heist, David would immediately move to Mexico, alone, but Kelly would soon join him there, with her two children. "I felt that if I didn't do something, I was going to snap," David said. Steve was sentenced to 11 years 3 months in prison. At first, David Ghantt said, "I didn't take her seriously. David kissed his sleeping wife on the cheek on the morning of Oct. 4. Within a few months, they were arrested. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! David Ghantt, a Gulf War veteran, had never been in trouble with the law. She could walk under the trees, with the chickens and goats and dogs that live around her mobile home. Now that Kelly believes she has found Jesus, she has become more analytical about her past. Paying the money back has taken a lot longer, and time is running out for the U.S. government to collect. Ten days later, the group was indicted for bank larceny and money laundering. You might as well go all the way now.". But those documents paint a picture of people who were middle-class (at. Scott didn't want to, but then he remembered the hundred-grand payday. Sure enough, she called a few days later, around September 16. Custom Content. Javascript is not enabled in your browser. Sandra Floyd, Michele Chambers's mother, remembers the first time she saw the house. On Oct. 7, 1997, two FBI agents arrived at Kelly Campbell's home after two Loomis employees had told agents she and David had once dated. Truth was, David wanted more than help leaving, he wanted company. He says the Loomis case shows how the criminal justice system and the courts treat lower-income people differently. Were you really hailed as a hero? You're an idiot.'". The defendants received sentences ranging from probation for several relatives to over 11 years in federal prison for Steve Chambers. David placed their odds of success at 85 percent, a confidence inspired by faith not just in his planning but also in his feelings for Kelly. dr katie columbus zoo. MASTERMINDS is based on a true story about a Loomis Fargo robbery, in which a small group successfully stole $17 millionmaking it the second largest bank heist in history back in 1997. But agents weren't ready to arrest Kelly and Steve. Is he telling the truth? I even helped them design the set, where he breaks into the vault. BBC Motion Gallery. } LRM: For whatever its worth, its a good answer. He is an uncomplicated man stuck in a monotonous life. Articles L, train fare evasion out of court settlement, dierks bentley beers on me tour 2022 setlist, independent and dependent events in real life, how much is a dirty glove bastard interview, how is madison brown related to christopher knight. "I was trying to figure out a way to [leave my husband] and take care of my kids without having to depend on him or any other man," Kelly said. Here's how. The trainee didn't know to check to make sure it was closed. Three of the 21 defendants in the case haven't been Scott was so nervous, he said, that he couldn't help. Some of that money is just gone. Punishment needs to be fair and realistic. Campbell and her husband had always been just scraping by, however in the weeks following the robbery, the two seemed to have more money than theyve ever had. Then you have the huge velvet Elvis. That week, the FBI designated the theft its 142nd "major case," putting it on a list--begun in the 1970s--that includes such other infamous crimes as the World Trade Center bombing. "Things I always wanted to do, but never had the time or the money," he said. Charlotte this past October. Trending News After the movie [premiered in theaters], my Facebook account exploded. He couldn't even bear to stick around for the final tally--though when he left he didn't forget to take $6,000, the first cut of his expected $100,000 share. I work for a small construction company. "Love" has four. He gave the rest to Kelly. He flip-flopped on the heist idea three or four times. She never really worried about the moral end of it--she was focused only on getting what she wanted out of life, what so many others seemed to have in this booming part of the South. For a better shopping experience, please upgrade now. 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. Steve solicited two others to help move cash during the theft. Web29 David Ghantt Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images. Additionally, we also discussed about his life in Mexico, the discoveries, and his life today after all this fame. Kelly relayed his message to Steve. Chambers wife, Michelle, bought a minivan in cash and began taking frequent trips to the bank to make deposits. 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. She came from a blue-collar background, a high school dropout who had grown tired of working in a mill and gotten an equivalency diploma. On Oct. 5, the Loomis heist celebrates its 25th birthday. CHARLOTTE If you didnt live in the Charlotte area 25 years ago, you might not believe it. Over 88% of the money has been recovered since the heist. She is the diamond of my soul. "We had David Ghantt and Kelly Campbell tied together, and we had Steven Chambers and Eric Payne with unexplained wealth, but we didn't have a tie between them," Agent John Wydra said. Creative Insights. LRM: Im curious. https://blog.prepscholar.com/david-scott-ghantt-loomis-fargo-heist She sounded incredulous. 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. And with Loomis, were looking at only one case. Without really intending to, Kelly recalls, she turned the conversation to the possibility of a heist. One of them tapped him on the back. Money does weird things to people. 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. The plan called for David to leave the vault door ajar, then maneuver a few minutes alone at the end of his shift, long enough to loot the cash, then pass it to Kelly and Steve. I live down here in Jacksonville, Florida. Later, they also arrested Nathans older brother. 1998 The Associated Press. I stole $17 million, and Zach Galifianakis played me in a movie. David kissed his sleeping wife on the cheek on the morning of Oct. 4. But he tried to keep his face averted, so David wouldn't be able to ID him. One thing about teammates, in David's view: You could always trust them. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { Well she was a pretty happy-go-lucky person, he said. Human nature is a flexible part of life, Gronquist said. . CREATIVE. CREATIVE. He says the Loomis case shows how the criminal justice system and the courts treat lower-income people differently. He was also married. The CEO and co-founder of the company that is responsible for Arkane Studios. #inline-recirc-item--id-91a2c54e-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-91a2c54e-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { David Ghantt normally came home between 6 and 8 p.m., and often he was late, his wife said. Just lounging around. Steve and Michelle Chambers, who had lived in a mobile home, bought a mansion in Cramer Mountain. "He was in tears. Kayla Thomas Top Boy Summerhouse, "I've got a friend," she said, "who can hook you up with a new ID.". Ghantt labeled himself as a jerk who was dissatisfied with his life before stealing the money. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. In preparation for what lay ahead, David had backed an unmarked company Ford Econoline van near the vault entrance and opened the van's back door. she asked. A more immediate need was securing help to move the stolen money to safety the night of the crime. I stole $17 million, and Zach Galifianakis played me in a movie. In addition to her work for PrepScholar, Hayley is the author of Museum Hack's Guide to History's Fiercest Females. All rights reserved. WebKelly lives (also in a mobile home) with an old friend named Steve Chambers (Owen Wilson) and his wife, Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Ellis). David kissed his sleeping wife on the cheek on the morning of Oct. 4. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. David trusted her. "But I had to know.". Kelly had resisted this suggestion before the heist: She and David were friends. The teller, who hadn't asked, filed a "suspicious activity report." On his second trip, Steve gave McKinney David's hotel address. "For the first year, they're all over you. One day, he went to check on it and the lock had been cut. I told them that this was the color regiment. All of the defendants except for one pleaded guilty and accepted their sentences. Mexican police, Interpol officers and an FBI agent were watching him. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. That led to better jobs, like the one at Loomis. She'd heard his stories of other successful schemes, like getting refunds on phony tax returns, or operating a loan shark business. Steve told her to send David to Atlanta on a bus and drive back to the trailer. Ghantt started at Loomis Fargo in 1994, and soon worked his way up from an armored car driver to a vault supervisor. . Exhibit A was that Steve had no steady job but plenty of cash. He frequently entertained there, buying steaks for his guests. LRM: True. Mostly with Zach. What did you have to do to survive? So we were able to figure out with all the denominations, it would require about 20 safe deposit boxes to store it all., WSOC TV facebook feed(Opens a new window), Part 2: Channel 9 speaks with the man at the center of Loomis Fargo heist 25 years ago, ALSO READ: 14-year-old boy robbed at gunpoint while waiting for bus in east Charlotte, mom says, ALSO READ: Leader of $3M check theft, bank fraud scheme in Charlotte area sentenced to prison, ALSO READ: Man released from jail, accused of robbing banks while wearing electronic monitor, police say, ALSO READ: Suspect from south Charlotte bank robbery found, CMPD says, NCSHP arrest driver accused of nearly hitting 2 students at bus stop in Statesville, CMS delays opening of new school meant to ease overcrowding, Mooresville orders removal of memorial at park after teens death, Chick-fil-A announces app data breach, tells customers how to protect personal information, Charlotte woman celebrates $1 million scratch-off prize, WSOC - TV Public File Contact / Program Director, WAXN - TV Public File Contact / Program Director. Ask below and we'll reply! "I'll need help moving the money, getting a new ID, and leaving the country," he told her. Zach Galifianakis played David Scott Ghantt, with other roles played by Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Leslie Jones, Kristen Wiig and Kate McKinnon. "I said, 'I don't want him killed.' At the party, Steve invited Michele's stepfather, truck driver Dennis Floyd, to the basement to play pool. The FBI recovered several million dollars in a van found in Mecklenburg County, but about $14 million in cash is still missing, authorities said. Afterward, she and David would talk just occasionally on the phone. No Honor Among Thieves He now has a wife, a construction job, and a child. Campbell, a former Loomis employee and one of the original masterminds of the caper, has paid off less than $21,000 of the $4,701,694.18 she was docked. Steve now needed a hit man. By late November, McKinney made a third trip to Mexico, saying he'd help David move to Mexico City. Then another. Also the Author of The Book of Dave: A New Path After a $17 Million Misstep https://t.co/qBMUgcNZ4F David Ghantt: That was the first thing the FBI told me when they had arrested me. One of my compatriots, Steve Chambers was in charge of the money. They hadn't slept together or even fooled around much, but he was ready to commit. All Rights Reserved. Then he was driving in the darkness with a van full of cash. why is my tiktok sound delayed iphone; is lena from lisa and lena lgbtq; charleston county school district staff 1-4-3 is 'I love you.' Two days after the heist, the FBI found the missing van with $3.3 million of cash left in it. A comedy film called Masterminds, based on the Loomis Fargo heist and starring Zach Galifianakis, Kristen Wiig, Owen Wilson, and Jason Sudeikis, was released in 2016. David was sentenced to 7 1/2 years. I loved it that she is part of my life now, because of all this. About the worst he had done as a teenager was stealing a construction company's Porta-Jon with a friend, tying it to the back of a pickup truck, and driving around for about fifteen minutes. The affidavit described Chambers as a former FBI informant who had provided information on another Loomis armored car robbery that never materialized. And robbing a truck was dangerous. Clerk of Court Frank Johns of Charlotte. Webrotator cuff disability rating loomis fargo heist kelly campbell. WebDavid Ghantt, Kelly Campbell, and their friends stole an astonishing $17.3 million. But neither of those things would matter after he met Kelly Campbell. Thats pretty standard in restitution matters. Kelly drove David to the airport. Thirteen friends and family members were also charged with money laundering, as they had helped Ghantt, Chambers, Campbell, and the others deposit money illegally. Kelly Campbell, 29, a former company employee, entered guilty pleas earlier to bank larceny, money laundering and conspiracy to commit murder charges. The only bit of excitement is his crush Kelly Campbell, who lures him into the scheme of a lifetime. "Just remind Steve," he said, "that I might be trouble my own self." Steve and Michele invited everyone back for a Christmas party, where they gave Michele's stepfather a special gift--the pickup truck he'd always wanted. Every time I meet this guy, it was always in a very public place. Campbellwho was married herselfrepresented something new and exciting. He realized that if they met the minimum monthly payments, the bill would take 30 years to pay. ", "I wouldn't do it. Two New Featurettes For CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR Are HERE! He realized his bosses would know he had worked that day and that he was missing, but maybe without a video they would think he'd been held at gunpoint and taken hostage, or even better, that he'd been killed. ". October was "a blast," he said. According to Campbell, Chambers could help Ghantt execute a massive cash robbery of the vault at Loomis Fargo in one night. Every day he drives an armored car, transporting millions with no escape in sight. The FBI's final challenge is finding the remaining $2 million. The Columbia airport had no available flights. He couldn't talk.". He had a favorite restaurant, Zandunga, which had a mariachi band each night and a view of the Caribbean. 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. His wife, they said, got breast implants and used cash to purchase a 1998 BMW Z3 sports car. When McKinney arrived in North Carolina, the plan had changed. I was also made myself available on set in case if someone wanted to talk to me. He had stolen $17 million from Loomis Fargo. 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. David Ghantt: I think its a great story. Collections. In early November, Steve lured the real Mike McKinney, an ex-Marine, to North Carolina from his Illinois home. She had previously been making frequent small deposits to avert suspicion. In the grand scheme of things, the prison sentence for stealing $20 million wouldn't be much worse than for stealing just $500,000 maybe a few extra years behind bars. His mobile home was nicely furnished, on eight acres with a stream in the back. David told her he'd need help moving the money, getting a new ID and leaving the country. Project #ShowUs. A parrot tattoo on her right ankle. Before he decided to steal $17 million from the bank, Ghantt had worked for years as a relatively taciturn and compliant employee. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Web1) David Ghantt is underpaid and unhappy. David Ghantt is a simple man stuck in a monotonous life. } Zbrojarnia; Walcownia; Praca; Kontakt; david ghantt wife. He is an uncomplicated man stuck in a monotonous life. Steve led the planning. Too many questions remained: Where was the cash? Depression had led to smoking a lot of marijuana and taking Prozac, a combination she figures affected her judgment. Kelly says she underestimated the value of her life before the heist. "Do you know how much there's gonna be?" Were just getting started on that. she asked again. What ACT target score should you be aiming for? But this time on the phone, Kelly wasn't joking. One night in a small North Carolina town, a down-on-his-luck guard at Loomis Fargo manages to steal $17 millionliterally more than one ton of cash. be blocked or permanently banned without warning. Where was Ghantt? He'd even bragged that he'd killed people. . "He showed me a lot of money," McKinney said. Accompanying her was Steve Chambers, who, though unemployed, had recently moved . I wasnt attracted to him or anything, but he was a nice guy, Campbell said. "I said, 'That's all they gave me,' " McKinney recalled. But what the bank didnt tell Michelle, and Michelle didnt know, was that one of those forms get filled out if you ask about it, or if its close to $10,000 or if they suspect that any part of that transaction is suspicious, Wydra said. "I thought he was goofing around.". In Campbells case, Gronquist says his client was buried in court-ordered debt despite the fact that she took responsibility for what she had done and cooperated with prosecutors and the FBI. Collections. Masterchef Contestants Who Died, Said Ghantt, one day life kinda slapped me in the face. However, he was released for good behavior after serving only five of them. There it was, "The Heist." Its baggeditup.net. David kissed his sleeping wife on the cheek on the morning of Oct. 4. He worked fueling airplanes, driving a forklift, and in 1994 he got a job as a vault superintendent at Loomis. I even helped them design the set, where he breaks into the vault. Instead of lobster, the man who stole $17 million survived on home-cooked pasta and grilled cheese sandwiches. It has a lot of things youll look for in a storya little romance, money, adventure and travel.

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