She is the diamond of my soul. 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. HOW TO ROB A BANK / S1 EP8. | TCR, Mando S3E1: The Apostate Review Fun Without Meaning, Design Without Thought, Disney+s Peter Pan & Wendy Teaser Trailer Showcases Familiar Characters, Creed III Black Carpet Interviews with Cast and Guests, Kogonada Rumored To Direct Episodes Of Star Wars: The Acolyte | Barside Buzz, Both Blade And Deadpool 3 Set To Begin Filming May This Year | Barside Buzz, Mandalorian Exec Producers Discuss Moving On Without Cara Dune, DC Spotlight February 28, 2023: The Comic Source Podcast, Arnold Schwarzenegger Stars In Netflixs FUBAR, His First Television Project, LRM Exclusive Interview: David Ghantt, Real Life Thief Who Inspired MASTERMINDS. Authorities said a Loomis employee pulled a gun on two co-workers. They put some elements of the real thing into the movie. ``During the conversation Campbell. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: The Beast Lays On The Charm In New TV Spot. One of my compatriots, Steve Chambers was in charge of the money. 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://twitter.com/DavidGhantt/status/827476087596789760. The name she gave the pup is apropos. They had initially agreed to control their spending for a year or two, in the belief that the government would vigorously track the spending habits of any and all suspects for at least a year before relenting. 'The Rolling Stones' drummer Charlie Watts holding his young daughter Seraphina as they arrive at London Airport, October 17th 1969. David Ghantt discovers the true meaning of adventure far beyond his wildest dreams. He was insecure. He is an uncomplicated man stuck in a monotonous life. Any truth to that? Will California Save the Iconic Joshua Tree? It wasa painful process, but I learned to be happy with me and with what I've got. David Ghantt: I was very sure they [were looking for me]. [1] Tips had led the FBI to begin monitoring Chambers's (and his wife's) activities, but it was not until the FBI recorded a phone call from Ghantt in Mexico that the final connection was made. Jokes soon followed the news of how Chambers and his former wife spent their ill-gotten gain. Outside the building, Ghantt met up with Campbell, Chambers, and others who were involved in the plot, and drove off to a printing business called Reynolds & Reynolds in northwest Charlotte. I might even have more these days. Soooooo will anyfuckingbody say what the movie is called? I got no real complaints, not at this point., The heist became the premise for the movie,Masterminds, released in September 2016. 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. What happened to the 2 mil that is still unaccounted for? Although the history of the predecessor Wells Fargo & Company dates back to 1852, Loomis Fargo & Company was established in 1997 by the consolidation of Wells Fargo Armored Service and Loomis Armored Inc.; the resulting corporation employed 8,500 people and provided armored transportation, cash handling services, and automatic teller machine maintenance. Being a quasi-famous bank robber and all? However, it's a Hollywood comedy. Gov. Ms. Campbell was a former Loomis employee who is the only person known to have contacted Ghantt in Mexico, while Chambers and McKinney conspired in recent days to kill Ghantt under the guise of bringing him more cash in Mexico, according to arrest affidavits. Purchases included a pool table, jewelry (including a $43,000 diamond ring), a minivan, $20,000 worth of cigars, and the 7,000-square-foot home on the side of Cramer Mountain. David Ghantt: When I first met Zach and sat down to talk about it, he said, You realize Im going to be playing a dumber, clumsier version of you. Its all being part as a comedy and its Hollywood. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Q: How do you tell prospective employers you once stole $17 million? Then you end up in a eight by ten cube and youre going to share that cube with two other people. The next day, Steve and Michelle Chambers, Kelly Campbell, and four others were arrested.[6]. In 2020, the television show Super Heists portrayed the heist in Episode 3, "Van Full of Dollars". I felt relieved, I knew that things were getting ready to come to an end and getting caught was a stress reliever even if I knew I was going to jail. 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. 121 90 1,443 Show this thread David GhanttRetweeted C.A. I even helped them design the set, where he breaks into the vault. Back in 1997, David Ghantt, a resident of Kings Mountain and Gulf War veteran, was finishing up his shift as a vault supervisor for Loomis Fargo when he started to load nearly $17 million into a company van and drove away. David Ghantt: Awesome. Sixteen others who were indirectly involved were convicted and federal agents recovered most of the money. Ghantt labeled himself as a jerk who was dissatisfied with his life before stealing the money. Ghantt was apprehended in Mexico and returned to the United States in custody. He would eventually be arrested in Mexico in March 1998 after one of his co-conspirators put out a hit on him under the false suspicion he was the only prime suspect authorities were aware of at the time. Service 11 a.m. Saturday . But Ghantt has been open about what he did and how he believes it changed him for the better. Ghantt was. As a die-hard fan of personal development books, I have to say - Ghantt hits the nail on the head with each and every chapter. The FBI investigation was aided by the gang's extravagant spending. Dont come to me for a treasure map, Ill put it to you that way., Michael Sainatos writing has appeared in the Guardian, Miami Herald, Baltimore Sun, Denver Post, Buffalo News, the Hill, Alternet, and several other publications . David Ghantt: That is the like the number two question that everyone asks me. I really don't miss that guy. Every time I meet this guy, it was always in a very public place. How? MASTERMINDS will be available on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download tomorrow. A: When you're locked up, you live in an 8-by-10 box and you share that with two other people. "They were short staffed and I noticed a lot of. We were in Old Fortwhen they were shooting the movie and went out to eat. This story was originally published October 3, 2016, 9:12 PM. Chambers finished serving his prison sentence in November 2006 and told the Associated Press in 2009 he was "changed.". Authorities found Ghantts unlocked red pickup truck near the Loomis building. David Ghantt: No, I havent talked to them in a very long time. "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. I'll take the live one. Im still going through the friend requests. Now looking back, with the life I have now, Ive got a great family, got a great kid. 1997 - David Scott Ghantt (Zach Galifianakis) thought being an armored car driver would be a dream come true. On Monday, he was returned to Charlotte, where he is charged with stealing a van stuffed with cash from the vault at Loomis, Fargo & Co. in Charlotte. David Ghantt: In my way of thinking, you are part of the story and people will talk about you regardless. Director Jared Hess Writers Chris Bowman (screenplay) Hubbel Palmer (screenplay) Emily Spivey (screenplay) Stars Zach Galifianakis Kristen Wiig Owen Wilson David and Kelly hit it off at a shooting . The Book of Dave A New Path After a $17 Million Misstep, Name: David Scott GhanttBorn: October 20,1969Infamous for: When he literally drove off with $17+ Million one day after work (admit it, youve all thought about it, lol)Famous for (at time of writing): Being an inspiration for the character David Ghantt in the major motion picture comedy- Masterminds. A guard at an armored car company in the Southern U.S. organizes one of the biggest bank heists in American history. LRM: Do you enjoy the publicity for yourself? Name: David Scott Ghantt Born: October 20,1969 Infamous for: When he literally drove off with $17+ Million one day after work (admit it, you've all thought about it, lol) Famous for (at time of writing): Being an inspiration for the character David Ghantt in the major motion picture comedy- Masterminds. I was like, Okay.. And it would take a lot more than that to offend me, I thought it was funny. They obviously werent trying to get it right they were putting together what they believe is a better story, said Diamant. 33. The odds of you actually getting away with something these days is pretty damn slim. The Mandalorian S3 Episode 1 Review: ROUGH START!!! The story inspired the hit move "Masterminds" in 2016, starring Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Kristin Wiig and Zach Galifianakis. How did it actually feel when the FBI took you in? "Miscavige is a recluse now the same way Hubbard was at the end," said Mike Rinder, the former media spokesman . Iraqi war vet, David Ghantt, was a guard at the Loomis Fargo cash vault in Charlotte in October 1997 when he decided to steal 17-million-dollars. SUBSCRIBE:Apple Podcasts||Spotify||Stitcher||TuneIn||Google Podcasts. According to court documents, federal agents began looking at the spending habits of Steven and Michelle Chambers after being tipped by a confidential informant about their "sudden wealth." The affidavit described Chambers as a former FBI informant who had provided information on another Loomis armored car robbery that never materialized. Chambers did more than 11 years. shes now Miss USA. That just added to the comedic element. LRM: For whatever its worth, its a good answer. #CLXGaming#CLXRa#evokethegods 1 2 Despite being caught on camera wheeling the money from the vault to the getaway van, David Ghantt makes off to Mexico before the FBI can blink. You take a movie like Oceans Eleven, the whole concept of that movie is so farfetched, its not even funny. A: People are very forgiving if you're open and honest right from the start. 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. Anyways, David, I appreciate this conversation. Authorities say Steve. The movie is hilarious. And, with the help of several others David made off with $17.3 million dollars, 11 million of which was in 20's. On Oct. 4, 1997, former Kings Mountain resident David Scott Ghantt finished his shift as a vault supervisor for Loomis Fargo in Charlotte. At the. But last Oct. 4, when he still hadn't gotten home by 2:30 a.m., she called his parents in. You can reach Kevin Ellis at 704-201-7016 or email him Kellis@GastonGazette.com. Man accused of planting explosive at Grandfather Mountain Highland Games pleads not guilty, Falcon 9 launches Crew-6 from Cape Canaveral, Flight attendants to get 10 hours rest between shifts under new US rule, Loretta Lynn, coal miner's daughter and country queen, dies, National Taco Day 2022 | Deals and offers. When McKinney realized Ghantt was wanted for the Loomis Fargo robbery, he backed off personally because he didnt want to be anywhere near a federal investigation. David Ghantt, a Gulf War veteran, was finishing his shift as a vault supervisor for Loomis Fargo when he loaded $17 million into a . There are also a bit of comedy and some tragedy. Spending years in prison, he said, gave him time to re-invent himself. $7 Million by Air. If you were one of the much-smaller-than-expected group of people who caught Masterminds at the theater this weekend, and are looking for a fact-check of the events depicted on screen, here are some of the highlights of our chat with Diamant. He and his wife, Michelle, moved from their mobile home in Lincoln County to a luxury house in the wealthy Cramer Mountain section of Cramerton. I've read that once the FBI actually closed in on you, you were relieved because you were fearing for your life at that point. Honestly, it got spent and no one noticed. David Ghantt: There are quite a few small facts and tidbits. Chambers never held Campbell hostage by locking her in a shed on his property. 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