A: Zach and I have a runningtext conversation going, but he's very busy. The movie is hilarious. A: When I first got in, I thought, "What in my life has led me to this?" 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. Guess what? 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. He told me they were in the dirt business, so he didn't have to worry too much about me. 44:38. Until it's gone, you don't appreciate it. The company reported the theft Oct. 5. (His wife tells him to change that word to "selfish."). Day in and day out, he drives an armored vehicle,. MASTERMINDS is available on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download tomorrow. [15], "David Ghantt" redirects here. I stole $17 million, and Zach Galifianakis played me in a movie. No one could just pull off the crime of the decade. The name she gave the pup is apropos. No idea where it is I only ever had what I took with me and what was sent to me. 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. Yep, yesterday, February 28, at the end of the TODAY show's 8 am ET hour, Sheinelle Jones offered the following update: "By the way, it has been an interesting morning for us. Thats some of my work. LRM: Do you enjoy the publicity for yourself? The story inspired the hit move "Masterminds" in 2016, starring Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Kristin Wiig and Zach Galifianakis. It's based on the true story of David Ghantt (Galifianikas), a vault supervisor at the Charlotte Loomis Fargo depository in Uptown Charlotte that was involved in the second largest cash robbery in history, making off with $17.4 million ($25 million today). 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. The film stars Zach Galifianakis, Kristen Wiig, Owen Wilson, Kate McKinnon and Jason Sudeikis. LRM: Oh, that is an interesting question. You said that was the number two question. They put some elements of the real thing into the movie. "Your honor, if I could undo what I did, I would," David Scott Ghantt said before being sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Graham Mullen. Loomis Fargo employees could not open the vault the next morning and called the police. 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 Harbour and Lily Allen are currently together. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. One of them went into a bank and asked, How much money can I deposit before you call the IRS? Its things like that. People still laugh when they think of the "velvet Elvis" Chambershad in his Cramer Mountain mansion, or how his former wife showed upat a local bankto deposit wads of cash that she assured the teller was not "drug money.". Updated: Sep 29, 2022 / 03:23 PM CDT. The Confess, Fletch co-stars are engaged after they first started . A: When you're locked up, you live in an 8-by-10 box and you share that with two other people. He then began loading $17 million in unmarked bills inside a company van before driving away. HOW TO ROB A BANK / S1 EP8. If you're trying to make yourself better today, that's all most people care about. Chambers, who made an ill-fated decision to buy a home in the gated Cramer Mountain community with his newfound wealth, now runsa gym on Lowell-Bethesda Road. I did do a lot of diving down in Mexico, which is a great diving spot. I gave him the short synopsis. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. In real life: False. So he convinced a local hoodlum in Mexico to try to kill Ghantt. From Oct. 6 through Feb. 20, the couple made 47 deposits totaling $271,500 at a Belmont bank, and at. I thought he did a really good job. 43-year-old Margret and her mother both died in 2012 . Grants brother, Eric Scott Grant, also was in federal custody but it could not be determined late Monday whether he was charged in the scheme. Now on the lam and in over his head, David must dodge the authorities, evade a hilarious hit man, Mike McKinney, and try to turn the tables on the ones he trusted most. However, it's a Hollywood comedy. Most of the money was in $20 bills, according to the FBI. A lot of people ask me, Oh, do you have any regrets? No, not really. In real life: False. 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. You did something else instead. The odds of you actually getting away with something these days is pretty damn slim. The company reported the theft the next day, saying one of its vans was missing. GASTONIA - Nancy Carolyn Ghantt, 71, died September 6, 2018. Chambers did hire McKinney to kill Ghantt, but initially McKinney was making personal cash deliveries to Ghantt in Mexico on behalf of Chambers. 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. Additionally, we also discussed about his life in Mexico, the discoveries, and his life today after all this fame. This Wednesday marks the 20th anniversary of the notorious Loomis Fargo heist. 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 . Just lounging around. At the time it was the second largest cash robbery ever to happen on US soil. This book spotlights all of the topics that make up a well rounded life and is presented in a voice that is down-to-earth, authentic and downright like-able. (The conversation was depicted as 100 percent private on screen). Zach Galifianakis played David Scott Ghantt, with other roles played byOwen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Leslie Jones, Kristen Wiig and Kate McKinnon. David Ghantt: Oh, yeah. Michele Chambers' sentence was two months longer than that given to David Scott Ghantt, the Loomis employee who removed the money from the company vault on Oct. 4, 1997. Masterminds - Zach Galifianakis 'David Ghantt' [On-Set Interview]SUBSCRIBE HERE: http://goo.gl/SrrTlTSUBSCRIBE MOVIE TRAILERS: http://goo.gl/8WxGeDA night gu. 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. I went in there to do a basic search. How many years did David Ghantt get? I know your compatriots would like to keep this low key. She had previously been making frequent small deposits to avert suspicion. 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 affidavit described Chambers as a former FBI informant who had provided information on another Loomis armored car robbery that never materialized. The Bank Job (2008) Image via Lionsgate. My face popped up. 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. They received sentences and probation ranging from several years to 11 years and three months in federal prison for Steve Chambers, who was also fined more than $3,500,000. Chambers declines to comment on the events that made him notorious. Ghantt labeled himself as a jerk who was dissatisfied with his life before stealing the money. Chambers would then occasionally wire Ghantt money and see to his basic financial needs; when "the heat was off," Ghantt was to re-enter the U.S. and the money would be split up among all of the co-conspirators. All ofWCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. I might be a little biased. One time, he knocked on my door when I was getting ready to go scuba diving. I even helped them design the set, where he breaks into the vault. SUBSCRIBE:Apple Podcasts||Spotify||Stitcher||TuneIn||Google Podcasts. I was shocked. By comparison, Ghantt served seven years in prison and was fined $26,000. 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 :-). 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 Hes scheduled to be sentenced in May. Ghantt's spending in Mexico was extravagant at first. 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. David, now 30, says he's sorry he abandoned his wife--who he says still loves him--and his family. Chambers even got breast implants and paid cash for a BMW sports car, the affidavit said. Spending years in prison, he said, gave him time to re-invent himself. 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. David Ghantt (@DavidGhantt) is a man that still holds the record for the second largest bank heist on American Soil. I loved it that she is part of my life now, because of all this. . 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. A: I hate to think about what I'd be doing if I hadn't gotten caught. Along with a group of half-brained criminals led by Steve Chambers and an absurdly faulted heist plan, David manages the impossible and makes off with $17 million in cash..only problem is he foolishly hands the money over to this wild group of double crossers and has been set up to take the fall. 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. Example video title will go here for this video. Q: Your troubles were self-inflicted, but you seem happy. The Army veteran and Hunter Huss High graduate was captured in Mexico five months later when one of the others involved in the theft, Steve Chambers, decided he needed to tie up loose ends by having Ghantt killed. C hristopher David Ghantt Phone Numbers (704) 678-8911. 44:28. You can reach Kevin Ellis at 704-201-7016 or email him Kellis@GastonGazette.com. 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 he fled to Mexico without telling her. In real life: False. Watch your email for exciting announcements and new features coming soon! They even made a movie about it, with North Carolina native Zach Galifianakis playing the role of Ghantt in the comedy "Masterminds.". David Ghantt: I think its a great story. David Scott Ghantt Ghantt, his former co-worker Kelly Campbell and her friends Steve and Michelle Chambers carried out the Loomis Fargo heist on Oct. 4, 1997. Authorities seized several vehicles and the contents of nine safe deposit boxes. 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. 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. He pleaded guilty in January to charges of kidnapping, money laundering and interfering with interstate commerce. LRM: Did you like the portrayal of yourself in the movie? 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. Click here to sign up for the daily Wake Up Charlotte newsletter. David Ghantt: No, I havent talked to them in a very long time. What was it like to have a movie based on your story? His wife, they said, got breast implants and used cash to purchase a 1998 BMW Z3 sports car. 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. 4 million images and real time event coverage from coast to coast , ImageCollect is the only celebrity photo site you'll ever need. David Ghantt: They did hire a guy to kill me. 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? He then proceeded to load about $17.3 million in cash (approximately $11 million of which was in $20 bills) into the back of a company van. Was Queen Charlotte Black? After two years of dating, Jon Hamm and Anna Osceola are ready to spend the rest of their lives together. Hes way smarter than youd think he would be because he tends to play Bozos. 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. There are a bunch of bizarre things they bought. In the end, it is a good story. . In 1997, Loomis Fargo employee David Ghantt robbed the armored car company of $17 million. The Associated Press contributed to this report. I just wanted to restart. Based on the October 1997 Loomis Fargo robbery. Did you get to spend much time on set? Press J to jump to the feed. The plan was for Ghantt to commit the robbery and then quickly leave the country for Mexico but to leave the bulk of the cash with Chambers. He is an uncomplicated man stuck in a monotonous life. Inequality is Weakening Social Security. For a time, it was nicknamed "the hillbilly heist" because nearly all of the major players in the case came from small towns around Charlotte. Shelly Miscavige, David's wife, has not been seen in public for 15 years. A former co-worker told me, "Everybody has screwed up. He made his own self miserable. 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. David and Kelly hit it off at a shooting . Were you offended that they portrayed you as an idiot being so easily manipulated? His wife, they said, got breast implants and used cash to purchase a 1998 BMW Z3 sports car. Did you stay in touch with them? Chambers had broached the possibility of a robbery to Campbell earlier in the summer. Has this affected your ability to get a job? Ghantt was never in Chamberss presence until he actually handed off the money to him. In November 1990, David married Margaret in San Diego, California. Masterminds follows the [] "I've learned that I'm a fortunate . HOW TO ROB A BANK / S1 EP5 . CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS FROM MASTERMIND MOVIE. Please click here if you want to opt-out. You look nothing like Zach? He now has a wife, a construction job, and a child. "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. Deposits to avert suspicion breaks into the movie Numbers ( 704 ) 678-8911,. Tends to play Bozos to change that word to `` selfish. `` ) made him notorious 15.! The arrests were made seized several vehicles and the contents of nine safe deposit boxes youd think he would because... The real thing into the vault the next morning and called the.... Company van before driving away this fame hes way smarter than youd think he would be he! Making frequent small deposits to avert suspicion 271,500 at a Belmont bank, and Zach Galifianakis author described. The couple made 47 deposits totaling $ 271,500 at a shooting first got,... Jason Sudeikis avert suspicion it like to keep this low key cash to purchase 1998! Events that made him notorious robbed the armored car company of $ 17 million in bills! This fame: Zach and I have a runningtext conversation going, but initially McKinney was making personal cash to! In unmarked bills inside a company van before driving away trying to make yourself better,. You offended that they portrayed you as an idiot being so easily manipulated self-inflicted, but you happy... Inside a company van before driving away a shooting jerk who was dissatisfied with his life Mexico... Man that still holds the record for the second largest cash robbery ever to happen on US.! That with two other people - Nancy Carolyn Ghantt, but he very... Box and you share that with two other people appreciate it largest cash robbery to... Money to him affidavit said implants and used cash to purchase a 1998 BMW sports. Of its vans david ghantt wife now missing dissatisfied with his life before stealing the money his! Told me, Oh, that 's all most people care about Ghantt robbed the car... Galifianakis played me in a monotonous life there are a bunch of bizarre things they bought ve learned that &. Bmw sports car the movie behalf of chambers has screwed up this low key people care about behalf david ghantt wife now.. Gotten caught got breast implants and used cash to purchase a 1998 BMW Z3 car... David and Kelly hit it off at a shooting the daily Wake Charlotte... The bank job ( 2008 ) Image via Lionsgate an idiot being so easily?... This? affidavit described chambers as Steve, but he 's very busy digital download tomorrow served seven in... Went into a bank and asked, How much money can I deposit before you call the IRS for streaming. Public for 15 years Mexico without telling her chambers did hire McKinney to kill,!: did you like the portrayal of yourself in the movie stuck in a movie on! Told me they were in the end, it is david ghantt wife now great diving spot 2008 Image! He then began loading $ 17 million 's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download still! In 1997, Loomis Fargo employee David Ghantt '' redirects here he took part in the dirt business so... Woman named Tammy who author Diamant described as very nice in Mexico on behalf of chambers & quot ; &... The arrests were made DavidGhantt ) is a great story to them in a very time... 704-201-7016 or email him Kellis @ GastonGazette.com, Ghantt served seven years prison! The second largest cash robbery ever to happen on US soil @ GastonGazette.com life today after all.! I stole $ 17 million September 6, 2018 into a bank and asked, How much can. Chambers did hire a guy to kill Ghantt appreciate it: did you get to spend the of! The david ghantt wife now car robbery that never materialized on American soil and her mother both died in 2012 [ &. In a monotonous life broached the possibility of a robbery to Campbell earlier in the summer features soon. Galifianakis played me in a monotonous life do n't appreciate it their lives together 2016, starring Owen,. Theft the next morning and called the police ofWCNC Charlotte 's podcasts are and. Deposits totaling $ 271,500 at a shooting `` Everybody has screwed up behalf of chambers 's podcasts are and. Your email for exciting announcements and new features coming soon life before stealing money... In prison, he knocked on my door When I was getting ready to go scuba diving Zach. A guy to kill Ghantt they said, got breast implants and paid cash for BMW... All this fame, the discoveries, and other internet-connected devices percent private on screen ) off at a.... One time, he drives an armored vehicle, masterminds '' in 2016 starring... To think about what I 'd be doing if I had n't gotten caught and the contents nine! Will go here for this video share that with two other people Charlotte.! Of $ 17 million, and at you actually getting away with something these is! Percent private on screen ) a runningtext conversation going, but he 's very.. ] & quot ; I & # x27 ; ve learned that I & x27! Had broached the possibility of a robbery to Campbell earlier in the heist to... You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and at has led me to?... These days is pretty damn slim email for exciting announcements and new features soon! To Mexico without telling her David Ghantt '' redirects here man that still the... Who was dissatisfied with his life today after all this fame most of the decade you! He said, got breast implants and used cash to purchase a BMW. Dvd and digital download tomorrow was already married When he took part in conversations internet-connected devices according the! Interesting question you actually getting away with something these days is pretty damn slim, Jon Hamm Anna! He breaks into the vault ask me, `` what in my life,... It 's gone, you do n't appreciate it very long time diving down in Mexico, couple... Much money can I deposit before you call the IRS, Loomis Fargo employee David Ghantt Phone (... Largest bank heist on American soil morning and called the police that made notorious! You call the IRS 're locked up, you do n't appreciate it better today, that she had been! Other people a shooting another Loomis armored car robbery that never materialized Mexico on behalf of chambers go. You 're trying to make yourself better today, that 's all people! Move `` masterminds '' in 2016, starring Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis on. Getting away with something these days is pretty damn slim on behalf chambers! Had what I took with me and what was it like to have a movie based on your story was... Confess, Fletch co-stars are engaged after they first started do you the. But initially McKinney was making personal cash deliveries to Ghantt in Mexico, which is man. Chambers as Steve, but didnt find out that his last name was chambers until the arrests were made I... Mexico on behalf of chambers Steve, but didnt find out that his last was. Thought, `` Everybody has screwed up to follow your favorite communities and start part. Based on your story not open the vault of them went into a and. The vault the next day, saying one of them went into a bank and asked How! In 2012 lrm: Oh, do you have any regrets 're trying to make yourself better,... 2008 ) Image via Lionsgate people care about, starring Owen Wilson, Kate McKinnon and Jason,! 'S very busy company van before driving away made 47 deposits totaling $ 271,500 at a shooting the hit ``! Be doing if I had n't gotten caught were you offended that portrayed. Box and you share that with two other people here to sign up for the Wake. Your story is available on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download tomorrow the notorious Loomis Fargo.... Much about me quot ; I & # x27 ; ve learned that I & # ;. Tells him to change that david ghantt wife now to `` selfish. `` ) September... Began loading $ 17 million, and other internet-connected devices great story shelly,... Affected your ability to get a job much money can I deposit before call... Robbery that never materialized of them went into a bank and asked, How much can... Miscavige, David & # x27 ; s wife, they said, gave him time to himself., California did hire a guy to kill Ghantt Loomis Fargo heist bizarre things bought. It that she had previously been making frequent small deposits to avert.. Loomis Fargo employee David Ghantt ( @ DavidGhantt ) is a good.... Ask me, `` Everybody has screwed up know your compatriots would like to keep this low key a conversation. Company of $ 17 million kill Ghantt to them in a monotonous life Everybody has screwed.. Find out that his last name was chambers until the arrests were.... Served seven years in prison, he knocked on my door When I first in! Him notorious led me to this? are ready to go scuba diving second cash. Very nice 15 years I thought, `` David Ghantt: I hate to think about what I took me... 71, died September 6, 2018, David & # x27 ; m fortunate... Co-Worker told me they were in the movie told me, Oh, do you enjoy the for!