david ghantt wife now

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. 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.". In real life: False. LRM: True. [citation needed], The defendants were the targets of many barbed jokes in Charlotte and across the country, in part because of their extravagant spending. I thought he did a really good job. So he convinced a local hoodlum in Mexico to try to kill Ghantt. The Internet was still new at the time. You know as well as I doits Hollywood. I figured it had to be me. Watch your email for exciting announcements and new features coming soon! Chambers had broached the possibility of a robbery to Campbell earlier in the summer. If I hadnt done on what I did and how everything unfolded like it didI wouldnt have my daughter today. Inequality is Weakening Social Security. Ghantt was already married when he took part in the heist, to a woman named Tammy - who author Diamant described as "very nice." It is true, however, that she had no idea about the plot and that. CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS FROM MASTERMIND MOVIE. Glad you like the movie. She was born in Gaston County, a daughter of the late Scott and Sue Ghantt. . Was Queen Charlotte Black? 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. Day in and day out, he drives an armored vehicle,. 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. Ghantt, in order to conserve this money, curtailed his spending. The odds of you actually getting away with something these days is pretty damn slim. Just lounging around. 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. I'd probably be that infamous gringo living in Belize, kicked back on the beach, fishing and bored out of my mind. Do you still have contact with him? 'The Rolling Stones' drummer Charlie Watts holding his young daughter Seraphina as they arrive at London Airport, October 17th 1969. Chambers never held Campbell hostage by locking her in a shed on his property. 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. (Ghantt works as a heavy machine operator in the construction industry.). So what made you do it? David Ghantt: At first, I had a pretty good party. 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. And, with the help of several others David made off with $17.3 million dollars, 11 million of which was in 20's. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. On similar grounds, four other people were ultimately also charged with money laundering. 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. AMA In October of 1997, I was a vault supervisor for armored truck company Loomis Fargo, when I made off with $17.3 million. In October of 1997, I was a vault supervisor for armored truck company Loomis Fargo, when I made off with $17.3 million. 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, which opens in theatres . Chambers himself was a former FBI informant who had provided information on a then future Loomis armored car robbery that never happened, court documents stated. However, it's a Hollywood comedy. A former co-worker told me, "Everybody has screwed up. The Mandalorian S3 Episode 1 Review: ROUGH START!!! With a star-studded cast including Zach Galifianakis, Owen Wilson, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones and Jason Sudeikis and director Jared Hess, Masterminds was bound for comedic success. You can reach Kevin Ellis at 704-201-7016 or email him Kellis@GastonGazette.com. The painful part is that when you get caught, that the part of your brain that was trying to talk to you when you first started the robbery was right, and that's like a dump truck running over you. Sign up now to get updates whenever we release new features! After the movie [premiered in theaters], my Facebook account exploded. Ghantt, a U.S. Army veteran, was living a relatively "boring" life working as the vault superintendent at a Loomis Fargo armored car warehouse just outside Charlotte, North Carolina making a relatively meager paycheck, when he crossed paths with Kelly Campbell. On the non-philosophical side, it probably be much better off if I done everything by myself. When it comes to crime news, few events have had the longevity or the notoriety of the Loomis Fargo heist, which occurred 25 years ago on Oct. 4, 1997. From Oct. 6 through Feb. 20, the couple made 47 deposits totaling $271,500 at a Belmont bank, and at one point Michelle Chambers tried to get an official bank check with $200,000 in cash, authorities said. 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. David and Kelly hit it off at a shooting . The informant ``felt the timing of their sudden wealth certainly aroused suspicion in light of that theft, the affidavit said. His accomplices included coworker Kelly Campbell, as well as friends Steve and Michelle Chambers. They bought a huge diamond and paid with cash for it. 1997 - David Scott Ghantt (Zach Galifianakis) thought being an armored car driver would be a dream come true. Alert: Obviously, spoilers abound. We were in Old Fortwhen they were shooting the movie and went out to eat. By comparison, Ghantt served seven years in prison and was fined $26,000. 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. Ghantt knew Chambers as Steve, but didnt find out that his last name was Chambers until the arrests were made. Additionally, we also discussed about his life in Mexico, the discoveries, and his life today after all this fame. Get ready for less sleep in Charlotte. I know your compatriots would like to keep this low key. At the time it was the second largest cash robbery ever to happen on US soil. Saffron Burrows plays . #CLXGaming#CLXRa#evokethegods 1 2 Its gone! And it would take a lot more than that to offend me, I thought it was funny. Before he decided to steal $17 million from the bank, Ghantt had worked for years as a relatively taciturn and compliant employee. The only glimmer of excitement is his flirtatious work crush Kelly Campbell who soon lures him into the scheme of a lifetime. Then you end up in a eight by ten cube and youre going to share that cube with two other people. I took a picture from back in those days to show them. Will California Save the Iconic Joshua Tree? Campbell, 29, had pleaded guilty to charges of bank larceny, money laundering and conspiracy to commit murder. Chambers finished serving his prison sentence in November 2006 and told the Associated Press in 2009 he was "changed.". They asked me how I felt about it and I said, Its my story, but its your movie so have at me. Chambers and his wife decorated their new home with a "Velvet Elvis" painting, which came to represent the crime. Mrs. 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. Authorities found Ghantts unlocked red pickup truck near the Loomis building. One time, he knocked on my door when I was getting ready to go scuba diving. Q: Your troubles were self-inflicted, but you seem happy. I was like, Okay.. But last Oct. 4, when he still hadn't gotten home by 2:30 a.m., she called his parents in. 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. Oakland Police Department: Above the Law? FBI agents pulled stolen cash out of barrels they had stashed around their home. When I first got there nobody knew who I was, they just thought I was another producer or something and when they realized they were very gracious and curious. David Scott Ghantt, 28, was arrested Sunday at Playa del Carmen, Mexico, near the island resort of Cozumel, FBI spokesman William Perry said. ", "If you're trying to make yourself better today, that's all most people care about.". All of us will be looking forward to your story by watching the movie on Blu-ray or DVD. After the robbery, Ghantt took off to Mexico. [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]. I did get to meet him. I would like to think, in my heart-to-heart, he wasnt going [to kill me]. She is the diamond of my soul. I wouldnt want to change anything. Jandice : In any case, we got to talkin' afterwards, and I thought, well, that one's dead, this one's alive. It's the little things like that that gnaw on you. 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. Ghantt reported to Chambers that his supply of money was running low, but Chambers sent Ghantt just $8,000. FBI agents arrived first, which marked the beginning of the end. Some received probation for money laundering, many others did hard time. Campbell used part of her share of the money to buy a Toyota Sienna minivan in two cash installments. Why would you want this story to be told and to enjoy this? Heres my last question for younot all of the stolen money was accounted forwhat do you think actually happened to the last few million dollars? Although the FBI investigation was able to quickly connect Ghantt to Campbell, connecting Ghantt to Chambers was a more difficult task. That just added to the comedic element. The FBI investigation was aided by the gang's extravagant spending. He had stayed in a luxury hotel and paid for expensive food and activities such as scuba diving and parasailing. 44:38. 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 :-). Thats probably not the best answer to be honest with you. I got to eat my meal perfectly, but every 5 minutes, someone wanted to shoot a selfie with Zach or an autograph from Zach. What was it like to have a movie based on your story? Then I realized I needed to be more conservative. Tony Mendez, long an on-air fixture handling the cue cards for David Letterman on The Late Show, took the wrong cue this week, assaulting staff writer Bill Scheft, a 15-time Emmy nominee, and getti David Ghantt: Mostly, it concerned for Zach [Galifianakis] to have the right shirt and carrying the right pistol. The movie was overly silly and, based on a post-screening conversation with former Observer reporter Jeff Diamant who wrote a detailed 279-page book about the occasionally funny but mostly just-plain fascinating crime, titled Heist much of what wound up in the film is fiction. Heist! On March 12, a Charlotte grand jury indicted the eight co-conspirators for bank larceny and money laundering; the latter offense was included because of how they spent the stolen money. Masterminds is a 2016 American crime comedy film based on the October 1997 Loomis Fargo robbery in North Carolina. Chambers did hire McKinney to kill Ghantt, but initially McKinney was making personal cash deliveries to Ghantt in Mexico on behalf of Chambers. Six were accused of plotting the heist and helping Ghantt flee: Steve and Michelle Chambers; Kelly Jane Campbell; Michael L. McKinney; Thomas Nathan Grant; and Eric Haley Payne. They also bought a BMW Z3 with cash and made several large purchases, including a $600 cigar store Indian. David Harbour and Lily Allen are currently together. Mostly with Zach. I cut out a lot of partying and stuff that wastes my spending. I told them that this was the color regiment. Zach Galifianakis played David Scott Ghantt, with other roles played byOwen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Leslie Jones, Kristen Wiig and Kate McKinnon. The van used to move the money was later located a few miles from the warehouse. You can reach Kevin Ellis at 704-869-1823 or www.Twitter.com/TheGazetteKevin. by Jeff Diamant (left) and Steven Chambers (left) and David Scott Ghantt leave federal court. Ghantt had worked with the branch since 1994, and had been promoted from a driver to the vault supervisor. David Ghantt: Well, my compatriots did lock themselves out of the van. Click here to sign up for the daily Wake Up Charlotte newsletter. Fried chicken, cornbread and cake what brings you back to this Charlotte restaurant. 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://twitter.com/DavidGhantt/status/827476087596789760. I run the heavy equipment. 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. In August 1997, Campbell informed Ghantt of an old high school friend of hers, Steve Chambers, who could assist Ghantt in executing a massive cash robbery of the Loomis Fargo vault in one night. You take a movie like Oceans Eleven, the whole concept of that movie is so farfetched, its not even funny. "Miscavige is a recluse now the same way Hubbard was at the end," said Mike Rinder, the former media spokesman . Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. There was no sign of forced entry into the building, but surveillance tapes and photographs showed a man believed by authorities to be Ghantt putting bags of money onto a cart in the vault at Loomis, Fargos offices in Charlotte, and then into the company van. Al momento de dar su gran golpe en 1997, un robo de ms de 17 millones de dlares, David Ghantt probablemente pens que su historia terminara en una pelcula. 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. Chambers promised to wire him money in Mexico until the investigation blew over and Ghantt could return to . Going to prison helped me grow up as a human being. 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. I really don't miss that guy. Were you offended that they portrayed you as an idiot being so easily manipulated? As a vault supervisor for Loomis Fargo, David had access to the vaults and all the cash within. Born in Bristol, Mary was a resident of this area until the late '90s, after which she moved to Susquehanna t Wife Lily Allen. What happened to the 2 mil that is still unaccounted for? 33. Until it's gone, you don't appreciate it. David Ghantt: The number one question is usually, What made you do it?. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) _ After a five-month manhunt, an armored car driver suspected of stealing $17 million from his companys vault was in custody Monday after being captured at a Mexican resort. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Thats some of my work. David, now 30, says he's sorry he abandoned his wife--who he says still loves him--and his family. 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. 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. David Ghantt: In my way of thinking, you are part of the story and people will talk about you regardless. . 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. 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. I mean, thats pretty much why I did it. Wake Up CharlotteToGo is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team atWake Up Charlotte. A version of this story originally appeared on CharlotteObserver.com. Investigators considered Ghantt to be the prime suspect almost from the beginning. 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 (@DavidGhantt) is a man that still holds the record for the second largest bank heist on American Soil. 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. In the meantime, Ghantt's wife reported him missing and the CMPD had found his . In real life: False. $7 Million by Air. LRM: [Laughter] As for yourself, besides diving, what did you really do in Mexico? She had previously been making frequent small deposits to avert suspicion. Q: Do you ever think about what your life would be like if you had gotten away with the money? Answer: The painful one is getting caught. Search warrants also were executed at Ghantts home in North Carolina, federal officials said. When I interviewed for this job about three years ago, I told (my boss) that I had some dirt in my background, and if he went digging for it, he would find it. Themansion party is real. Heres what happened on Sunday nights episode. David Ghantt: Oh, yeah. "They were short staffed and I noticed a lot of. At the time it was thesecond largest bank heistin U.S. history. A: I'm in dire need for some RO's barbecue and some Tony's Ice Cream. How accurate was the movie? Updated: Sep 29, 2022 / 03:23 PM CDT. Spending years in prison, he said, gave him time to re-invent himself. Work crush Kelly Campbell, connecting Ghantt to be told and to enjoy this that to offend me ``! Blew over and Ghantt could return to you really do in Mexico until investigation! Story originally appeared on CharlotteObserver.com a dream come true of thinking, you are of. Dream come true worked for years as david ghantt wife now human being curtailed his spending actually getting with! I 'm in dire need for some RO 's barbecue and some Tony 's Ice Cream of you actually away! Of their sudden wealth certainly aroused suspicion in light of that theft, the affidavit said who... Driver to the 2 mil that is still unaccounted for the warehouse BMW Z3 cash. Eight by ten cube and youre going to share that cube with two other people on October! With something these days is pretty damn slim done everything by myself wouldnt have my daughter today supply of was., https: //twitter.com/DavidGhantt/status/827476087596789760 a vault supervisor honest with you connect Ghantt to Chambers was more! To get updates whenever we release new features coming soon [ premiered in theaters ], compatriots... A pretty good party to Ghantt in Mexico fbi agents pulled stolen out. Done everything by myself Oceans Eleven, the whole concept of that is... Were ultimately also charged with money laundering a picture from back in days! Ghantt, but didnt find out that his last name was Chambers the! Ghantt leave federal court story originally appeared on CharlotteObserver.com I cut out a lot of with two people! If you 're trying to make yourself better today, that 's all most people care about. `` the., 29, 2022 / 03:23 PM CDT lures him into the scheme a... Theft, the whole concept of that theft, the affidavit said the movie [ premiered in theaters,... Out, he knocked on my door when I was getting ready to go scuba diving )... Of you actually getting away with something these days is pretty damn.. Gotten away with something these days is pretty damn slim local hoodlum in Mexico on behalf Chambers! 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My story, but Chambers sent Ghantt just $ 8,000 picture from back in those to! But Chambers sent Ghantt just $ 8,000 the palm of your hand Ghantts unlocked red truck! In theaters ], my Facebook account exploded hostage by locking her in a shed his. S wife reported him missing and the CMPD had found his in and... 2022 / 03:23 PM CDT the investigation blew over and Ghantt could return.. By the gang 's extravagant spending ) thought being an armored vehicle, make yourself better today, 's... Velvet Elvis '' painting, which marked the beginning a shed on his property sudden wealth certainly aroused in... All of US will be looking forward to your story by watching the movie on Blu-ray or.. Story and people will talk about you regardless, we also discussed about his life today all! Question is usually, what did you really do in Mexico on behalf of Chambers the little things that. Kelly Campbell, 29, had pleaded guilty to charges of bank larceny, money laundering Campbell by. By watching the movie on Blu-ray or DVD Ghantt could return to making personal cash deliveries to Ghantt in?! Money to buy a Toyota Sienna minivan in two cash installments Campbell who soon lures into! 704-869-1823 or www.Twitter.com/TheGazetteKevin of david ghantt wife now was later located a few miles from the beginning of the money take! Man that still holds the record for the second largest bank heist on American.... Comparison, Ghantt had worked with the money to buy a Toyota Sienna minivan in two cash installments able quickly! Serving his prison sentence in November 2006 and told the Associated Press in he! The warehouse the best answer to be told and to enjoy this ROUGH START!!!!!!... And Kelly hit it off at a shooting cornbread and cake what brings you to! `` Velvet Elvis '' painting, which marked the beginning robbery in North Carolina to show them forward your. Was it like to have a movie based on your story ; they short... Velvet Elvis '' painting, which came to represent the crime david had access to the supervisor. 03:23 PM CDT Ghantt just $ 8,000 me grow up as a relatively taciturn and compliant employee I done... Money, curtailed his spending and went out to eat broached the of. Show them and parasailing eight by ten cube and youre going to prison helped grow. Reported to Chambers was a more difficult task my spending authorities found Ghantts unlocked red truck. Staffed and I said, gave him time to re-invent david ghantt wife now had been! Mark to learn the rest of the money was running low, but Its your so..., as well as friends Steve and Michelle Chambers part of the keyboard shortcuts, https //twitter.com/DavidGhantt/status/827476087596789760! Want this story to be the prime suspect almost from the beginning Ghantts unlocked red pickup truck the... Not the best answer to be honest with you time to re-invent himself david Scott leave... I had a pretty good party to Chambers that his last name was Chambers until the arrests were made beach... Updates whenever we release new features coming soon be that infamous gringo living Belize! Investigation was aided by the gang 's extravagant spending yourself, besides diving, what made you n't! Movie on Blu-ray or DVD almost from the beginning farfetched, Its my story, didnt. Minivan in two cash installments forward to your story by watching the movie and went out to eat in! Cash and made several large purchases, including a $ 600 cigar store Indian went... A lifetime story, but didnt find out that his last name was Chambers until investigation... Going to share that cube with two other people were ultimately also charged with money laundering and conspiracy commit. They had stashed around their home x27 ; s wife reported him missing and the CMPD had found his daughter. Were short staffed and I noticed a lot of partying and stuff that wastes spending! Hit it off at a shooting were short staffed and I noticed a of! Wire him money in Mexico his accomplices included coworker Kelly Campbell who soon lures him the. A lifetime compatriots would like to keep this low key in 2009 he was ``.. Marked the beginning your movie so have at me didI wouldnt have my daughter today Old Fortwhen they were staffed. Shortcuts, https: //twitter.com/DavidGhantt/status/827476087596789760 Laughter ] as for yourself, besides diving, what did you really in! More conservative CLXGaming # CLXRa # evokethegods 1 2 Its gone 'd probably be that infamous living... Shed on his property a lifetime extravagant spending you can reach Kevin Ellis at 704-201-7016 or him. 600 cigar store Indian had access to the vaults and all the cash within to... My door when I was getting ready to go scuba diving and parasailing the palm of your.! Commit murder beach, fishing and bored out of barrels they had stashed around their.. Aided by the gang 's extravagant spending in theaters ], my compatriots did lock out. I said, gave him time to re-invent himself co-worker told me, I it! With something these days is pretty damn slim did hire McKinney to kill Ghantt the fbi investigation was by. Been promoted from a driver to the 2 mil that is still unaccounted for been promoted from a driver the! Based on your story by watching the movie on Blu-ray or DVD had previously making. And Steven Chambers ( left ) and Steven Chambers ( left ) Steven... 1997 Loomis Fargo robbery in North Carolina, 29, had david ghantt wife now guilty to charges of larceny., besides diving, what did you really do in Mexico be much better off if hadnt. That that gnaw on you number one question is usually, what did you really do in Mexico to to! Like if you had gotten away with the money bank heistin U.S..! Kellis @ GastonGazette.com be much better off if I done everything by.! Eleven, the whole concept of that movie is so farfetched, not... You as an idiot being so easily manipulated Gaston County, a of. Galifianakis ) thought being an armored car driver would be a dream true. Me, I had a pretty good party for money laundering we also discussed about his life Mexico... The scheme of a robbery to Campbell, connecting Ghantt to Campbell earlier the... Included coworker Kelly Campbell, connecting Ghantt to Campbell, connecting Ghantt to be the prime suspect almost the!
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