Pink, Mr. Blue, Mr. Orange, Mr. Blonde. The unsolved crime mystery of Marilyn Sheppard. But what the bank didnt tell Michelle, and Michelle didnt know, was that one of those forms get filled out if you ask about it, or if its close to $10,000 or if they suspect that any part of that transaction is suspicious, Wydra said. Curiously, Payne had recently paid of his Visa in one payment and had been driving around new and rented vehicles for the past weeks. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. In Gastonia, David would run into high-school classmates who had never struck him as especially smart. The reason David didn't know Steve's last name was so they couldn't identify each other to the police or FBI, should cops or G-men ever enter the picture. The Chambers home is now gated, which means Channel 9 crews cant drive up to it like we used to. A customs inspector, asking routine questions of bus passengers, focused her attention on him when his answers reminded her of Tommy Flanagan, the pathological-liar character played by Jon Lovitz on Saturday Night Live. He waffled on the heist idea three or four times from late August to mid-September. We are happy to work with other website publishers. - Jeffrey Guller, who at 81 is by far the oldest of the Loomis defendants, still owes almost $1.1 million on his original court debt of $1.14 million and will remain on the governments books for another four years. Federal law stops government collection efforts 20 years after a defendant leaves prison. In order to receive more evidence, the FBI decided to listen. Stealing from Loomis Fargo could make him rich, if he got away with it. LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Is this really about the needs of the poor? of violence, racism, anti-Semitism, or true story that has captivated American audiences on the news and now on the big screen in the major motion picture, Masterminds. The $17 million was stolen last Oct. 4 from the armored-car company's vault in Charlotte. Paying the money back has taken a lot longer, and time is running out for the U.S. government to collect. Their most important conversation occurred one afternoon in August 1997 after Kelly paged him at work. A former FBI agent who helped crack the case sat down with Channel 9 Reporter Glenn Counts to talk about the clues that led to solving the crime, and how the group got caught. Loomis Fargo defendants owe as much as they stole in 1997, Incident raises concerns about LGBTQ safety in Carteret County, Drug deal gone bad claims the life of former Marine, Man charged with DWI after SUV takes out gas pumps, fire hydrant in Morehead City, Norfolk Southern train derails in Lexington No hazmat, no anger, Beaufort Housing Authority to replace public housing apartments, New Gamer's Guildhall looks to build community, comradery, DA: 'A very dangerous individual' from Swansboro has been removed, EDITORIAL: Government derails in response to disasters, EDITORIAL: Traffic growth demands a third bridge addition, Commentary: Close look at family history disturbing, Commentary: Second Amendment subverts democracy, EDITORIAL: Attorney General Stein ignores his constitutional responsibility. To the community, the Loomis Fargo heist was a big joke -- the largest hillbilly caper of all time. When Ghantt called Campbell however, the FBI was able to track his location, and arrested him with the help of the Mexican police onMarch 1, 1998. Library Journal "highly entertaining." FILE - Kelly Campbell, one of the 21 people convicted for their involvement in the $17 million Loomis Fargo heist, awaits sentencing for her part in the theft at her mobile home near Mount Holly . I gotta go.". He played high school football at Mays High School in Atlanta, and college football at Georgia Tech . From there, the money was moved from the armored car to private vehicles. In the first couple of weeks, they had heard both Steve and Shelley bragging about their new-found fortune, and spending remarkable amounts of money. Afterward, she and David would talk just occasionally on the phone. Thank you so much. More calls between the two men, and also between Steve and Kelly Campbell, made it clear that the group was starting to turn on David Ghantt. The next day, before Mike was able to leave the country, the FBI arrested him in his hotel room. LETTER TO THE EDITOR: But where will they park? And once he started, he didn't stop with one cartful. The figures can be astounding. He decided at that moment that if Kelly called again, he would go for it. Have a youtube channel or website similar? A parrot tattoo on her right ankle. High around 65F. More than half of the amount came from the seizure of a luxury home purchased by husband-and-wife defendants during their post-heist spending spree. We dont have the manpower to track all that (restitution) money down I pay (restitution to) thousands of people, but its in drips and drabs.. Copyright The Nashua Telegraph | https://www.nashuatelegraph.com | 110 Main St, Ste 1, Nashua, NH 03060 | 603-882-2741, Loomis Fargo defendants owe as much as they stole in 1997, Thats pretty standard in restitution matters. This technically made it abank robbery afederal offense. be blocked or permanently banned without warning. But with Kelly's new idea on the table, several dark realities converged on him. Steve was a serious guy? (LogOut/ They had to be extremely careful not to tip off the group, as they could lose potential conspirators or more information important to a conviction. Michelle Chambers received a few more months than Ghantt, because she had violated several bond conditions. He quickly found out when you have money, you just have different problems, Wydra said. Kelly called, using David's own cell phone, to ask where he was already, because she and the others were waiting outside for him. He had since held one low-paying job after another. David and Kelly had driven to Rock Hill, South Carolina, and used the documents to obtain a fake ID that David would also rely on after the theft. Heist! David was supposed to be showing him the ropes of the job, which included cash pickups and deliveries. He loves his motorcycle and enjoys going fishing and, while hes sorry for the past, hes not ashamed to talk about it. After marrying Tammy in 1992, he worked fueling airplanes at the airport in Hilton Head, South Carolina. It has a certain feel, a smell and weight to it. There are multiples of thousands of these things coming every year. Ms. Campbell worked at Loomis for 11 months, leaving in November 1996, according to court papers. FILE - Kelly Campbell, one of the 21 people convicted for their involvement in the $17 million Loomis Fargo heist, awaits sentencing for her part in the theft at her mobile home near. The gang made numerous mistakes. These cookies do not store any personal information. It was David who was hours away from committing the most daring act of his life, and she was going off about Steve being a serious guy? Loomis Fargo heist: 25 years later Former FBI agent John Wydra, who helped crack the case, sat down with Channel 9 Reporter Glenn Counts to talk about the clues that led to solving the crime, and how the group got caught. The only other employee with him on this day was a trainee. He knew it would mean leaving Tammy. But things didnt quite work out that way. Worlds Biggest Heists London Hatton Garden 200m Diamond Robbery, Easter 2015. In the end, the FBI was able to capture the original gang in five months, snaring 21 individuals for their participation in the crime. Since Ghantt was the supervisor, he sent his co-worker home first. Punishment needs to be fair and realistic. TWO TO ENTER GUILTY PLEAS IN ARMORED-CAR ROBBERY - Greensboro News and And they hit the jackpot -- FBI video shows agents recovering most of the stolen cash. They didnt expect it.. The corporation handled armored transportation, ATM maintenance and other cash handling services, and had millions of currency stashed in the vault of the North Carolina branch. For the defendants in the Loomis Fargo heist, its allure was irresistible. Jeff Diamant was a reporter for the Charlotte Observer when the heist took place. Spunk. Ghantt said he believes in redemption, and that his mistake 25 years ago brought him all the things that are important in his life today. Burks was also ordered to serve 15 years in prison, limiting his ability to balance his books. Authorities were notified of the robbery in the morning, when employees couldnt open the vault. He worked close-by to where the van and over $3 million dollars had been ditched, and was friends with Steve Chambers. They knew Steve Chambers had worked as an informant in the past, and were nervous he would smell out an undercover. Nathan, Steves cousin, was found in a mobile home the Chambers had abandoned. >> PHOTOS: The Loomis Fargo heist, 25 years later. You cannot fine low-income people millions of dollars. But that only tells part of the story. How did they get away with stealing more than $17 million? The robbery was committed by David Scott Ghantt who was the vault supervisor and accomplices Kelly Campbell, Steve Chambers, Michelle Chambers, Michael Gobies, and other four members. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]. It just happened to fall on my desk.. He and his wife, Michele, moved from theirmobile homeinLincoln Countyto a luxury house in the wealthy Cramer Mountain section ofCramerton. Many of the lesser players in the conspiracy have been the most effective in paying their debts. The theft at the time the second-largest cash robbery in U.S. history has been the brunt of mocking movies and books, mostly on how the thieves, who had little money to begin with, could not control their spending habits once they did. Ghantt, who by then was long out of prison, served as a consultant. Join thousands already receiving our daily newsletter. The real story behind the second largest bank heist in history, which Getting restitution, its like pulling teeth., White-collar criminals are pretty good at hiding their money,, Youre supposed to get less time for cooperating, a lesser penalty, and instead, you see what she got hit with., She will never get beyond the debt. At 2:20 p.m., the phone rang; it was Kelly again. Campbell was another employee at Loomis Fargo and she and Ghantt quickly struck up a relationship, one that Campbell denies was ever romantic though FBI evidence says otherwise, and one that continued after she left the company. People dont seem to understand human nature. A parrot tattoo on her right ankle. They succeeded in removing $17 million from the safe. The building was configured so vans could drive inside and pull up next to the vault. "What would it take to convince you to do it?" He had approached her inside the chain-link fence that surrounded the building and said with a flirty smile, "If you give me a cigarette, I'll be your friend. He added that he would be able to send the trainee home at about 6:00 p.m. and would then need about an hour to load the money from carts, shelves, and the floor into a Loomis company van. They hadn't slept together or even fooled around much, but he was ready to commit. Although the FBI investigation was able to quickly connect Ghantt to Campbell, connecting Ghantt to Chambers was a more difficult task. She sounded incredulous. Enabling JavaScript in your browser will allow you to experience all the features of our site. La vie de David Ghantt n'a rien de compliqu. They also bought aBMW Z3with cash and made several large purchases, including a $600 statue of aNative American. EDITORIAL: Computer Science misses the need for digital literacy, N. Carolina legislators announce Medicaid expansion deal, EDITORIAL: Fighting political forces that sever family ties, Special-use to get overhaul: Commissioners, planners take a look, Cape Carteret seeking new police chief one month after hiring New Bern resident for post, How many in North Carolina are awaiting student loan debt relief? The Star-Ledger, 06/15/2015On October 4, 1997, an amateurish gang robbed Loomis, Fargo & Co. in Charlotte, NC of $17 million, the second largest heist in U.S. history. Of course, this would all be a radical departure for him, and thoughts of his wife and parents did give him pause. In the parking lot, David sat in his pickup truck smoking a cigarette and waving good-bye as the trainee drove home. Ghantt was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison. 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. 25th anniversary of the incredible Loomis Fargo bank heist | wcnc.com Learning from this error, David planned to leave the stolen money behind with his coconspirators while he fled to Mexico. It wasn't how much you stole that mattered most; it was that you had stolen in the first place. The police almost immediately called theFBI, since 95% of the money handled at the facility was owned by banks. America's Dumbest Heist! (True Crime Documentary) | Real Stories Steve decided to send his cousin, Nathan with money down to Mexico as a ruse, while Mike the bodyguard would follow behind to take care of Ghantt. Criminals dont usually get high-paying jobs after leaving prison. Of course the problem was, the money belonged to someone else. He hated his job and his bosses, he'd lost hope in his marriage, he wasn't going to advance at Loomis, and he couldn't afford to quit to enroll in college. The 2016 comedy movie, Masterminds is based on the story of the Loomis Fargo Heist. It all seemed unfair. FILE - Kelly Campbell, one of the 21 people convicted for their involvement in the $17 million Loomis Fargo heist, awaits sentencing for her part in the theft at her mobile home near Mount Holly, N.C. on Aug 16, 1999. In Florida, a Loomis Fargo employee had pulled a gun on his coworkers and gotten away with $18 million, a move that FBI agents theorize Ghantt, Campbell and other employees all sat around talking about - and what they would do with that amount of money - for a while. 6-Year Sentence For Kelly Campbell | The Seattle Times The plan was to exit through the building's electronic back gate, which consisted of horizontal metal plates that opened at the touch of a button. You can seize property. The property has changed hands several times since then. Campbell and her husband had always been just scraping by, however in the weeks following the robbery, the two seemed to have more money than they've ever had. There was no reason to leave anything, he felt. White-collar criminals are pretty good at hiding their money, she said. My knee-jerk reaction was to be angry, and then the sarcastic ass side of me started laughing about it, Ghantt said. The trainee didn't yet know how the place worked, a fact David planned to use to his advantage. Low 46F. The case had gotten national publicity and was the subject of numerous articles, documentaries and even a movie. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. While Ghantt trusted Chambers enough to leave his cut behind, Chambers had other plans. Youre supposed to get less time for cooperating, a lesser penalty, and instead, you see what she got hit with. Gronquist said. A third surveillance tape was carelessly left behind, and the company was able to identify the man who robbed the vault as David Ghantt. shaka wear graphic tees is candy digital publicly traded ellen lawson wife of ted lawson real kelly campbell loomis fargo heist 25 Feb/23 (No Ratings Yet) I was relieved emotionally because I knew there was a good chance my luck might run out, Ghantt said. Aprs de nombreux seconds rles comiques au cinma, elle parvient percer en co-crivant et tenant le rle principal de la His collection case closes in two years. What it does is put a ball and chain on that person for the rest of their lives, they are walking around and they are basically an indentured servant, Gronquist said. Michelle Chambers paid off only $27,000. You can garnish wages. Oh were not going to talk to anybody, theyre not going to be able to convict us, that bravado happens in the beginning and then it often gets worn down by the reality, Gronquist said. sole discretion of the site administrators and repeat offenders may Thomas Grant, who served three years in prison for bank larceny, paid off restitution of $70,000; brother Eric Grant paid all of his $26,000; as did David Craig, $40,000; and Dennis and Sandra Floyd; $27,000. 2023 Cox Media Group. 2023 Cox Media Group. It should have been easy, but for some reason the gate didn't open for him. Well they were in some sense celebrities, Gronquist said. In 1994, they moved to Gastonia, North Carolina, where they had grown up, and David took a job driving a forklift. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2002.