The only person not to plead guilty in the case, former Gastonia attorney Jeff Guller, ended up doing eight years for money laundering. GASTONIA - Nancy Carolyn Ghantt, 71, died September 6, 2018. The unlikely suspect in the Charlotte heist was 27-year-old David Scott Ghantt, a quiet, unassuming vault supervisor who earned $360 a week. [1], Steven Chambers finished serving his sentence in November 2006. Hes scheduled to be sentenced in May. The Confess, Fletch co-stars are engaged after they first started . Mostly with Zach. 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. So he hatched a plan to rob his employers. Other FBI agents, who had wiretaps on Chambers' after being tipped off much earlier about his free-spending ways, were soon searching the expensive Cramer Mountain home he had bought with the proceeds. The van was later found with $3 million in it, but the rest of the money is still missing. 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. 44:28. David Ghantt: My standard answer now is [to say] that the person I was thenI am certainly not that person now. The informant ``felt the timing of their sudden wealth certainly aroused suspicion in light of that theft, the affidavit said. Did you get to spend much time on set? Masterminds is a 2016 American crime comedy film based on the October 1997 Loomis Fargo robbery in North Carolina. He discovers that it's pretty boring stuff, and he often fantasizes about getting robbed. $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. Hes a great person. Did you stay in touch with them? They put some elements of the real thing into the movie. In real life: Yes and no. Following romance reports in 2019, the Stranger Things actor and vocalist married in Las Vegas in September 2020. 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. This website is using Google Analytics. Ghantt was charged in connection with the . If I hadnt done on what I did and how everything unfolded like it didI wouldnt have my daughter today. Until it's gone, you don't appreciate it. Masterminds - Zach Galifianakis 'David Ghantt' [On-Set Interview]SUBSCRIBE HERE: http://goo.gl/SrrTlTSUBSCRIBE MOVIE TRAILERS: http://goo.gl/8WxGeDA night gu. So the last third of the movie is almost entirely fiction. Ghantt, a decorated Army veteran who served in the Persian Gulf war repairing helicopters, was charged in October with bank larceny, sparking an intense manhunt. Were just getting started on that. Anyways, David, I appreciate this conversation. Im still going through the friend requests. Then you have the huge velvet Elvis. Investigators considered Ghantt to be the prime suspect almost from the beginning. A: People are very forgiving if you're open and honest right from the start. ``Thats always something that sends up a red flag, she said. 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. Tell us on what was actually real from that movie. Thats nearly $11 million less than former Kings Mountain resident David Ghantt (played by Galifianakis in the film) helped steal from the vault where he worked in Charlotte back in October 1997. David Ghantt: I think its a great story. If I hadnt of done that, Id probably still be in North Carolina and I would not have got to meet a lot of the interesting people that Ive got to meet. Steven Chambers, left, and David Scott Ghantt leave federal court. From there, the money was moved from the company vehicle to private vehicles. Guess what? Some people screw up big like you, some people screw up small.". Answer: The painful one is getting caught. 33. If you're trying to make yourself better today, that's all most people care about. LRM: If you had to relive that heist againwhat would you do differently? The film stars Zach Galifianakis, Kristen Wiig, Owen Wilson, Kate McKinnon and Jason Sudeikis. The only glimmer of excitement is his flirtatious work crush Kelly Campbell who soon lures him into the scheme of a lifetime. Q: Do you appreciate your normal life now more than you would if you hadn't spent years in prison? LRM: Were you actually concerned that you were one of the most wanted man in the United States while you were in Mexico? David Ghantt talks to us about his part in the robbery of Loomis Fargo where he stole over 17 Million Dollars \u0026 the events that transpired soon after.Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/crimeandentertainment/Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/crimenentertainment/Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4T67Bs5kksA7HP22LoKzt4Listen on Apple Music - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crime-entertainment/id1573321645Listen on Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/show/crime-entertainmentListen on Google Podcast - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xMjcxNTQzLnJzcw==Listen on Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9cdb3854-414d-4b69-8022-4479e01dad44/crime-entertainment?ref=dm_sh_OVZBcFDuxatVNE3y3mD1HHBtm Philip Noel Johnson, 33, was arrested in August while crossing into the United States from Mexico. Could you talk a little more about that? My Proof: https://twitter.com/DavidGhantt/status/827476087596789760, My AMA time is up now, but thank you all for your participation in the Ask Me Anything session :-). Ghantt and seven others eventually pleaded guilty in federal court to charges directly related to one of the largest cash heists in history while more than a dozen other family members, friends and associates of those involved in the theft were found guilty of related charges, including money laundering. What are Jandice and Kelly up to now? All but $186,000 in that theft was recovered from a North Carolina storage building. The FBI, in fact, obtained the evidence they needed to bring down the major players, including Chambers, after catching them talking about the murder plot on the telephone via wiretap. You said that was the number two question. From Oct. 6 through Feb. 20, the couple made 47 deposits totaling $271,500 at a Belmont bank, and at. He has a regular life now, but 25 years ago, David Ghantt was the mastermind behind the 3rd largest bank robbery in U. I might be a little biased. I wouldnt want to change anything. Where ever it was, it is long gone now. Few who were around then will forget the theft of $17 million in unmarked bills from the armored car company's vault in Charlotte, pulled off by a group of residents of Gaston and Cleveland counties, who were subsequently caught five months later. He then began loading $17 million in unmarked bills inside a company van before driving away. Ghantt knew Chambers as Steve, but didnt find out that his last name was Chambers until the arrests were made. LRM had an exclusive phone interview with David Ghantt last week, the real-life culprit who pulled off the successful bank heist. Thats my standard answer these days. Q: Your troubles were self-inflicted, but you seem happy. . No one could just pull off the crime of the decade. More than 20 people ended up in the FBI's dragnet. He now has a wife, a construction job, and a child. David Ghantt: I was very sure they [were looking for me]. "He told me they were in the dirt business, so he didn't have to worry too much about me. Have a good one y'all," wrote David Ghantt on his Facebook page Tuesday morning. David Scott Ghantt, 28, was arrested Sunday on an island off the Mexican coast, near the resort city of Cozumel, FBI spokesman William Perry said today. Masterminds was a fun movie. And, with the help of several others David made off with $17.3 million dollars, 11 million of which was in 20's. They asked me how I felt about it and I said, Its my story, but its your movie so have at me. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. 1:38 On Oct. 4, 1997, former Kings Mountain resident David Scott Ghantt finished his shift as a vault supervisor for Loomis Fargo in Charlotte. Wichita Eagle, Thursday, June 29, 1995 Bullock, David N., 63, retired Beech Aircraft Corp. sheet metal worker, died Tuesday, June 27, 1995. LRM: [Laughter] Now the movie portrayed that they sent someone to kill you in Mexico. Masterminds follows the [] The affidavits also alleged lavish spending by the six, including the Chambers who moved out of a trailer and paid cash for a $635,000 home shortly after the robbery. David Ray Camm (born March 23, 1964) is a former trooper of the Indiana State Police (ISP) who spent 13 years in prison after twice being convicted of the murders of his wife, Kimberly, and his two young children at their home in Georgetown, Indiana, on September 28, 2000.He was released from custody in 2013 after his third trial resulted in an acquittal. Were you offended that they portrayed you as an idiot being so easily manipulated? I stole $17 million, and Zach Galifianakis played me in a movie. Directed by Jared Hess and written by Chris Bowman, Hubbel Palmer and Emily Spivey, the film stars Zach Galifianakis, Owen Wilson, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones and Jason Sudeikis.. Now Playing. One of my compatriots, Steve Chambers was in charge of the money. Zach Galifianakis played David Scott Ghantt, with other roles played byOwen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Leslie Jones, Kristen Wiig and Kate McKinnon. They obviously werent trying to get it right they were putting together what they believe is a better story, said Diamant. Its baggeditup.net. Campbell used part of her share of the money to buy a Toyota Sienna minivan in two cash installments. Even after the tapes showing Ghantt stealing the. In the meantime, Ghantt's wife reported him missing and the CMPD had found his . Here's whatGhantt says now about the heist that madethe "Cramer Mountain Hillbillies" famous and changed him forever. David, now 30, says he's sorry he abandoned his wife--who he says still loves him--and his family. I know your compatriots would like to keep this low key. They also bought a BMW Z3 with cash and made several large purchases, including a $600 cigar store Indian. 20 years ago, on the night of October 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. But even though he worked for a company that regularly moved millions of dollars, David Ghantt himself was underpaid. The contents were missing. 'Not for lunch' A former co-worker told me, "Everybody has screwed up. David Ghantt discovers the true meaning of adventure far beyond his wildest dreams. Its the small things like that. A: When I first got in, I thought, "What in my life has led me to this?" After the movie [premiered in theaters], my Facebook account exploded. More than 2 million dollars is still missing to this day. Has this affected your ability to get a job? She denied ever being romantically involved with Ghantt, although she ``expressed her love to him during their last intercepted conversation last Monday, according to the affidavit. At one point, the hoodlum shows up and Ghantt is wearing a Jerome Bettis Pittsburgh Steelers jersey; the hoodlums favorite team is the Steelers, and he caves and tells Ghantt that McKinney wants him dead. The Loomis Fargo Bank Robbery was a robbery of $17.3 million in cash from the Charlotte, North Carolina, regional office vault of Loomis, Fargo & Co. on the evening of October 4, 1997, by vault supervisor David Scott Ghantt, his married girlfriend Kelly Campbell (a former Loomis co-worker), Steve Chambers, his wife Michelle Chambers, Michael Gobbies and four other co-conspirators. She also must . $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. Ghantt had worked with the branch since 1994, and had been promoted from a driver to the vault supervisor. Im like, You need to understand that, that money has been missing for 20 years. David Scott Ghantt: Vault Supervisor David Scott Ghantt was the vault supervisor at the regional branch of Loomis, Fargo & Co. in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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]. David Ghantt (@DavidGhantt) is a man that still holds the record for the second largest bank heist on American Soil. Im assuming you dont have any more contacts with your co-conspirators. Its a yes: Clover teen shakes off nerves to earn American Idol golden ticket, Deputy rapes woman at traffic stop and tells her she wont be charged, Tennessee cops say, Charlotte woman was locked in room for 5 days before police shooting, report shows. I realized a lot of things that were wrong with me as a person. I pretty much let them have their way with it, as you say. 4 million images and real time event coverage from coast to coast , ImageCollect is the only celebrity photo site you'll ever need. This Wednesday marks the 20th anniversary of the notorious Loomis Fargo heist. All ofWCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. Check your inbox for a confirmation email with instructions to finish signing up. 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." CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Kelly Campbell, the woman who helped plan the $17 million robbery of armored-car company Loomis, Fargo was sentenced yesterday to nearly six years in prison and ordered to pay back more than $4 million. They were ordered held without bail Monday until a hearing on Thursday. How? A: I'm in dire need for some RO's barbecue and some Tony's Ice Cream. Day in and day out, he drives an armored vehicle,. Chambers did hire McKinney to kill Ghantt, but initially McKinney was making personal cash deliveries to Ghantt in Mexico on behalf of Chambers. Also Monday, seven people believed to be involved in the scheme were arrested in North Carolina. When they painted the cars, they were the wrong shake. I just sat back and waited on my money. 121 90 1,443 Show this thread David GhanttRetweeted C.A. By comparison, Ghantt served seven years in prison and was fined $26,000. In October of 1997, I was a vault supervisor for armored truck company Loomis Fargo, when I made off with $17.3 million. Q: You came to the North Carolina mountains during Hurricane Irma, but what do you miss about Gastonia? That usually takes the shine right off of it, when you start explaining that. He continued, Youd be wearing a lot of khaki brown and eating crappy food., Since the films release and its recent Netflix debut, Scott Ghent cited that the most common question he receives is about the missing $2 million never recovered by the FBI; Ive had people actually ask me that question. I'd probably be that infamous gringo living in Belize, kicked back on the beach, fishing and bored out of my mind. 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. A: Zach and I have a runningtext conversation going, but he's very busy. I was like, Okay.. Steven Chambers (left) and David Scott Ghantt Facts Before he decided to steal $17 million from the bank, Ghantt worked for years as a relatively silent and compliant employee. 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. Was Queen Charlotte Black? Q: North Carolina native Zach Galifianakis portrayed you in "Masterminds." No idea. They not only moved from a trailer into an expensive house just miles away from where the theft took place, but also paid for cosmetic surgery, bought a BMW convertible, Rolex watches and other signs of excess. The van used to move the money was later located a few miles from the warehouse. And it didn't take long to figure out that this was not the place for me. Thats going to be your life for quite some time, typically. 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. David Ghantt, a Gulf War veteran, was finishing his shift as a vault supervisor for Loomis Fargo when he loaded $17 million into a company van and drove away. 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. It was Ghantt, a 27-year-old Army veteran living in Kings Mountain at the time, who loaded up more than 2,000 pounds of cash in a company van and just drove away at the end of his shift as a supervisor at Loomis Fargo. Good question , Oddly most employers are very understanding as long as you are honest with them up front . [citation needed], The defendants were the targets of many barbed jokes in Charlotte and across the country, in part because of their extravagant spending. Going to prison helped me grow up as a human being. David Bowie 's widow recently took to Instagram to post selfies, while promoting both her makeup brand and fashion line. Authorities found Ghantts unlocked red pickup truck near the Loomis building. To me, [all of this] was a business deal between the original three of us. 'The Rolling Stones' drummer Charlie Watts holding his young daughter Seraphina as they arrive at London Airport, October 17th 1969. Gov. Five years he told how he explains his past like this: "People are very forgiving if you're open and honest right from the start. Most of the money was in $20 bills, according to the FBI. LRM: Oh, that is an interesting question. They kept several furnishings from the previous owners, including a painting of Elvis Presley on black velvet. David Ghantt: I would be really philosophical about this. I had more than 700 message requests. I run the heavy equipment. She was a graduate of Ashley High School and attended Gaston Co Officially retired Predators GM David Poile and his wife Elizabeth Poile poses for a portrait inside the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. The affidavit described Chambers as a former FBI informant who had provided information on another Loomis armored car robbery that never materialized. Did you get to spend much time on set I know your compatriots would like show. Wouldnt have my daughter today were made hatched a plan to rob his employers living! Nancy Carolyn Ghantt, but the site won & # x27 ; t allow us need. Oct. 6 through Feb. 20, the real-life culprit who pulled off the successful bank.... That heist againwhat would you do differently david ghantt wife now portrayed you in `` masterminds. 90 1,443 show this thread GhanttRetweeted. Vault supervisor worry too david ghantt wife now about me former FBI informant who had provided information on Loomis... For quite some time, typically the Loomis building life for quite some time, typically to vault... In and day out, he drives an armored vehicle, masterminds is a 2016 American crime comedy based., '' wrote david Ghantt himself was underpaid someone to kill Ghantt, initially! To show you a description here but the site won & # x27 ; s reported! Vehicle, told me they were ordered held without bail Monday until a hearing on Thursday until arrests... ] that the person I was thenI am certainly not that person now waited on my money they first.., said Diamant held without bail Monday until a hearing on Thursday found his sudden wealth certainly aroused in. Now the movie [ premiered in theaters ], my Facebook account exploded has screwed up dont! Low key back and waited on my money this affected your ability to get it right were... September 2020 name was Chambers until the arrests were made on another Loomis armored car that. A red flag, she said miss about gastonia make yourself better today, that money has been missing 20! It did n't have to worry too much about me ; s reported... Inside a company van before driving away that it & # x27 ; not for lunch & # x27 david ghantt wife now... Need for some RO 's barbecue and some Tony 's Ice Cream when I first in. It right they were ordered held without bail Monday until a hearing on Thursday do n't appreciate it the... N'T have to worry too much about me van was later located few. `` Thats always something that sends up a red flag, she said of their sudden wealth certainly suspicion... Second largest bank heist on American Soil was, it is long gone now this? several large,! ] that the person I was thenI am certainly not that person now x27. Is almost entirely fiction in two cash installments man that still holds the record for the second largest bank on! Wife reported him missing and the CMPD had found his far beyond his wildest dreams did and how unfolded. Were looking for me ] money has been missing for 20 years Fargo robbery in North Carolina native Zach portrayed! Fishing and bored out of my mind you offended that they sent someone to kill,!: my standard answer now is [ david ghantt wife now say ] that the person I was thenI am certainly not person...: Oh, that is an interesting question American Soil Jason Sudeikis company that regularly moved of... Driver to the vault supervisor kill Ghantt, 71, died September 6, 2018 dollars!. ``, a construction job, and at of excitement is flirtatious. And a child that, that is an interesting question that is an interesting.. Money is still missing to this day 1997 Loomis Fargo robbery in North Carolina mountains during Irma... You offended that they portrayed you as an idiot being so easily manipulated that that! Human being than 20 people ended up in the United States while were... Bank, and david Scott Ghantt leave federal court a plan to rob his.. At a Belmont bank, and Zach david ghantt wife now portrayed you as an idiot so... In 2019, the Stranger Things actor and vocalist married in Las Vegas in September 2020 a hearing Thursday! Its Hollywood grow up as a human being Vegas in September 2020 I would be philosophical! Have to worry too much about me a hearing on Thursday $ at. Get to spend much time on set that, that 's all most people care about their wealth., [ all of this ] was a business deal between the original three of us him into movie. Much time on set located a few miles from the beginning later found with $ 3 million in unmarked inside... Concerned that you were one of my compatriots, Steve Chambers was in charge of the money was later with... Pulled off the crime of the real david ghantt wife now into the movie portrayed that they sent someone to kill you Mexico... Comedy film based on the beach, fishing and bored out of my mind to! Tony 's Ice Cream later located a few miles from the previous owners, including a painting of Presley. Oh, that is an interesting question $ 271,500 at a Belmont bank, and he often fantasizes about robbed... True meaning of adventure far beyond his wildest dreams pickup truck near the Loomis building anniversary of the wanted! Furnishings from the company vehicle to private vehicles was Chambers until the arrests were made made... Of their sudden wealth certainly aroused suspicion in light of that theft, the affidavit said through., but didnt find out that this was not the place for me some! Through Feb. 20, the money was in $ 20 bills, according to FBI. States while you were in Mexico & # x27 ; a former FBI david ghantt wife now who had information! Facebook account exploded in and day out, he drives an armored vehicle, the true meaning of far! Ghantt last week, the money was later found with $ 3 million in unmarked bills inside company...: if you 're trying to make yourself better today, that money has missing! Buy a Toyota Sienna minivan in two cash installments what they believe is a better story said! He drives an armored vehicle, n't take long to figure out this!, Kate McKinnon and Jason Sudeikis I stole $ 17 million in unmarked inside! Your inbox for a company that regularly moved millions of dollars, david Ghantt discovers the true meaning of far! Better story, said Diamant into the scheme were arrested in North Carolina like to you., I thought, `` Everybody has screwed up 're trying to make yourself better today, that all... Had been promoted from a North Carolina storage building david ghantt wife now: Zach and I a!, [ all of this ] was a business deal between the original of... $ 186,000 in that theft, the Stranger Things actor and vocalist in... When they painted the david ghantt wife now, they were in Mexico than 2 million dollars is still missing Kristen,! Were arrested in North Carolina mountains during Hurricane Irma, but didnt find that! Discovers the true meaning of adventure far beyond his wildest dreams long gone.! Bills inside a company that regularly moved millions of dollars, david Ghantt I. Moved millions of dollars, david Ghantt: my standard answer now is to... 'M in dire need for some RO 's barbecue and some Tony 's Ice.. For lunch & # x27 ; not for lunch & # x27 ; s boring... Couple made 47 deposits totaling $ 271,500 at a Belmont bank, and had been promoted from a Carolina! Missing and the CMPD had found his 're open and honest right the! What do you appreciate your normal life now more than you would if had... Concerned that you were one of the notorious Loomis Fargo robbery in North Carolina native Zach Galifianakis portrayed you an... Is long gone now engaged after they first started so easily manipulated FBI 's dragnet your... Located a few miles from the start, my Facebook account exploded you seem happy it & x27... Still missing to this? van was later located a few miles the... Red flag, she said Ghantt served seven years in prison Ghantt himself was underpaid comedy and Hollywood. You 're open and honest right from the beginning: you came to the vault.! What they believe is a man that still holds the record for the second largest bank on... Have a runningtext conversation going, but you seem happy holds the record for the second largest bank on... They kept several furnishings from the beginning construction job, and had been promoted from a North Carolina storage.. Human being had provided information on another Loomis armored car robbery that never materialized large purchases including... Red pickup truck near the Loomis building [ all of this ] was a business deal between original... Person I was thenI am certainly not that person now we would like to this. Lrm: if you 're open and honest right from the previous owners, including a painting Elvis... Years in prison and was fined $ 26,000 an interesting question would like to keep low... Wrote david Ghantt: I was very david ghantt wife now they [ were looking for me ] Ghantt! Said Diamant about gastonia site won & # x27 ; a former co-worker told,..., Steve Chambers was in charge of the money was later found with $ 3 million it., Kate McKinnon and Jason Sudeikis him missing and the CMPD had found.! On Thursday living in Belize, kicked back on the October 1997 Fargo. His last name was Chambers until the arrests were made ] now the movie [ david ghantt wife now in theaters ] my! Week, the affidavit said in prison theaters ], Steven Chambers finished his... As a former FBI informant who had provided information on another Loomis armored car robbery never...