In the parking lot, David sat in his pickup truck smoking a cigarette and waving good-bye as the trainee drove home. You can have your whole career and not have a case like that. David was supposed to be showing him the ropes of the job, which included cash pickups and deliveries. But you cant get blood from a stone,, Criminals dont usually get high-paying jobs after leaving prison. A more immediate need was securing help to move the stolen money to safety the night of the crime. 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. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]. 6-Year Sentence For Kelly Campbell | The Seattle Times Outside of the building, Ghantt met up with Campbell, Chambers, and others who were involved in the plot, and drove off to a printing business called Reynolds & Reynolds in northwest Charlotte. He wanted to leave his wife for her, and Kelly, who also was married, let him think she wanted the same. Guller was the attorney for Steven Chambers, who came up with the original idea for the Loomis theft. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Booklist "Librariesshould consider purchasing this entertaining and lightly edited version, which reads like a fast-paced novel." For the defendants in the Loomis Fargo heist, its allure was irresistible. The real 'Masterminds' Hed never really been in trouble, he wasnt a career criminal, said retired FBI agent John Wydra. >> PHOTOS: The Loomis Fargo heist, 25 years later. : The .17 Million Loomis Fargo Theft [Jeff Diamant] on Amazon.com. The stated plan was for her to move to Mexico to be with him after the theft. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. The 2016 comedy movie, Masterminds is based on the story of the Loomis Fargo Heist. Thank you so much. Once they were in custody, the overwhelming task of clearing out possessions possibly purchased with the stolen money began. The unsolved crime mystery of Marilyn Sheppard. But with Kelly's new idea on the table, several dark realities converged on him. 25th anniversary of the incredible Loomis Fargo bank heist | wcnc.com 'Masterminds' Review: Loomis Fargo Robbery Where Are They Now? - Pajiba Sunny. In 2017, for example, Paul Burks of Lexington was ordered to pay $244 million to the victims of his worldwide Ponzi scheme, Zeek Rewards. He was on a budget for clothes, even for work boots; he had recently needed to check seven stores before finding a pair in his price range. In all, agents arrested 24 people in the heist. Kelly Campbell, who one day visited a Toyota dealership to purchase a minivan with twenty-dollar bills. 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. NASCAR. "What would it take to make you do it?". What purpose does that serve other than to denigrate that person into abject poverty?. His collection case closes in two years. Criminals dont usually get high-paying jobs after leaving prison. The plan to rob Loomis Fargo was spawned by Campbell and her friend Steve Chambers, during a casual bonfire at Chambers' home. A woman by the name of Kelly Campbell had worked there in 1996, and she and Ghantt had become friends in that time. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Except for the kiss in the pickup truck a few weeks before the heist, Kelly had kept things platonic. These (Loomis) guys, not so much.. 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 theyve ever had. It took me going to prison to realize I was a bag of worms, and it took me years of work to be somebody worthy to come back into our society, he said. Learn how to enable JavaScript on your browser. 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. 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? kelly campbell masterminds - clydeautorepairs.co.uk sole discretion of the site administrators and repeat offenders may By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. 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. Ghantt, his former co-worker Kelly Campbell and her friends Steve and Michelle Chambers carried out the Loomis Fargo heist on Oct. 4, 1997. Campbell led Ghantt to think she loved him and they would flee to Mexico together, but she actually wanted to make a better life for herself in the U.S. With the plan in place, Ghantt sent a newly hired employee he had been assigned to train home early (reportedly, at 6 p.m.) and then proceeded to load a little more than $17.3 million in cash (approximately $11 million of which was in$20 bills) into the back of a company van. Who all wanted a Rambo movie which explored his time training as a green beret and his time serving in Vietnam as a prequel to first blood WATCH Antebellum 2020 FULL MOVIE. Not every agent has a case like that, he said. You can seize property. be blocked or permanently banned without warning. Burks was also ordered to serve 15 years in prison, limiting his ability to balance his books. 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. Guller was the attorney for Steven Chambers, who came up with the original idea for the Loomis theft. Steve and Michelle Chambers, who had lived in a mobile home, bought a mansion in Cramer Mountain. Campbell used to work for Loomis and continued the friendship with Ghantt, eventually hooking him up with Chambers. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. This month marked 25 years since one of the biggest armored car heists in U.S. history. Loomis Fargo Heist of 1997 - History and Other Things David said he needed Kelly to drive to Loomis before the theft that night to remove a duffel bag from his parked pickup truck. Ghantt was the vault manager and was surrounded. The only other employee with him on this day was a trainee. Channel 9 speaks with the man at the center of Loomis Fargo heist 25 But this time on the phone, Kelly wasn't joking. Pink, Mr. Blue, Mr. Orange, Mr. Blonde. Feet Security Officer Bo Foot's Incident In Happy Town | ipl.org Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.. Clear skies. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. I made a joke once that was the hardest Id ever worked for Wells Fargo -- yeah, its a lot of work, Ghantt 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. Although the FBI investigation was able to quickly connect Ghantt to Campbell, connecting Ghantt to Chambers was a more difficult task. Getting that off his chest calmed him some, and the conversation returned to the plan. The bag held his mobile phone and handgun. Next month, Payne will back in the Charlotte federal courthouse, this time to be sentenced from weapons and methamphetamine trafficking charges. There are many robberies registered in the history of America, but the Loomis Fargo Robbery is known to be the second largest robbery in the United States. Investigators also found Ghantts pickup truck, abandoned at the warehouse. Besides her prison sentence, Campbell must undergo mental health and drug treatment and spend two years in a supervised release program. "Are you serious?" How Did David Ghantt, Kelly Campbell, Steve Chambers Steal More Than And then I realized that a lot of people knew who I was and they had followed the case.. Current price is $11.49, Original price is $14.99. Even with several vehicles, they underestimated how much space they would need and they had to leave $3 million behind. The biggest restitution numbers for victims of financial crimes generally involve Ponzi schemes or sweepstakes fraud, not cash thefts. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. And after two years, the case is just a file. Inside $3.3 million was located along with the two stolen surveillance tapes, apparently left due to the robber and his accomplices being sloppy, or in a hurry. If the American Dream involved being better off as adults than your parents were, David was experiencing a version of the American Nightmare. The bigger the amount, however, the bigger the damages to victims that likely will never be repaid: - Amy Paynes collection account was closed in 2020 with her having paid $53,000 of the $274,000 she owed. (John D. Simmons/The Charlotte Observer via AP). Libraries without that edition should consider purchasing this entertaining and lightly edited version, which reads like a fast-paced novel. After marrying Tammy in 1992, he worked fueling airplanes at the airport in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Cool interesting stuff features everything odd, weird, bizzare, strange or unusual. Campbell was released from federal custody in 2004 after serving five years, meaning her collection case will age out in December 2024. Campbell left her job in the summer of 1997, but she would later use Ghantt's feelings for her to her own advantage to get him to agree to carry out the multi-million-dollar heist. The Loomis Fargo heist: 25 years later We went on a mission to calculate exactly how much size-wise the money was, $11.3 million in $20 bills, and it weighed over 2,000 pounds, former FBI agent John Wydra said. For people earning $8.15 an hour David's salary the jokes came naturally. The police almost immediately called theFBI, since 95% of the money handled at the facility was owned by banks. Federal law stops government collection efforts 20 years after a defendant leaves prison. In the end, the FBI was able to capture the original gang in five months, snaring 21 individuals for their participation in the crime. Kristen Wiig plays Kelly, who really wasn't that into David, but convinced him to take a fortune from Loomis Fargo in the fall of '97. Its in the ether. 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 affidavit described Chambers as a former FBI informant who had provided information on another Loomis armored car robbery that never materialized. "Don't double-cross us," the woman on the phone told David Ghantt. Also charged with money laundering were innocent relatives and friends who had co-signed safe deposit boxes. And once he started, he didn't stop with one cartful. He allegedly hired a hitman to take Ghantt out, tying up the ultimate loose end. Ghantt, his former co-worker Kelly Campbell and her friends Steve and Michelle Chambers, carried out the Loomis Fargo heist on Oct. 4, 1997. The gang made numerous mistakes. His collection case, which closes in November 2026, got credit for the couples $540,000 house on Cramer Mountain in Gaston County, Butcher says. Burks was also ordered to serve 15 years in prison, limiting his ability to balance his books. What that says is, We will never forgive you for what youve done. The October 4 shift was lasting longer than expected, due to delays involving pickups and deliveries. They assumed that whoever was involved would keep the cash in a safe place, like a safe deposit box. Change). Discover the truth behind unexplained ancient mysteries, UFO mysteries, secret locations and paranormal events. So we were able to figure out with all the denominations, it would require about 20 safe deposit boxes to store it all.. He decided at that moment that if Kelly called again, he would go for it. Yet their lives seemed far easier and better than his. Getting restitution, its like pulling teeth.. "Just think about it," she said. Ghantt went to Mexico leaving the money with his cohorts, thinking that he could get his share back when he needed it. 'When you have money, you just have different problems': The Loomis The towns booming construction industry attracts workers from around the country. That first day in prison was scary, Ghantt said. It's still the hot topic . As beads of sweat formed under his red hair, he loaded up another cart and repeated the process. The trainee didn't yet know how the place worked, a fact David planned to use to his advantage. Theres no way to get it back,, And with Loomis, were looking at only one case. In David's eyes, Johnson's big mistake was that he did it alone. He knew it would mean leaving Tammy. Tips had led the FBI to begin monitoring Chambers (and his wifes) activities, but it was not until the FBIrecorded a phone callfrom Ghantt in Mexico that the final connection was made. 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. Investigators considered Ghantt to be the prime suspect almost from the beginning. Enforcement of this policy is at the 2023 Cox Media Group. So he and some friends decided at the end of his Oct. 4 shift he would load a company van with more than 2,000 pounds of cash and just drive away. How many people have walked the red carpet at a movie premiere in a case that was yours?. So we were able to figure out with all the denominations, it would require about 20 safe deposit boxes to store it all., WSOC TV facebook feed(Opens a new window), Part 2: Channel 9 speaks with the man at the center of Loomis Fargo heist 25 years ago, ALSO READ: 14-year-old boy robbed at gunpoint while waiting for bus in east Charlotte, mom says, ALSO READ: Leader of $3M check theft, bank fraud scheme in Charlotte area sentenced to prison, ALSO READ: Man released from jail, accused of robbing banks while wearing electronic monitor, police say, ALSO READ: Suspect from south Charlotte bank robbery found, CMPD says, NCSHP arrest driver accused of nearly hitting 2 students at bus stop in Statesville, CMS delays opening of new school meant to ease overcrowding, Mooresville orders removal of memorial at park after teens death, Chick-fil-A announces app data breach, tells customers how to protect personal information, Charlotte woman celebrates $1 million scratch-off prize, WSOC - TV Public File Contact / Program Director, WAXN - TV Public File Contact / Program Director. Ghantt, who by then was long out of prison, served as a consultant. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. And they hit the jackpot -- FBI video shows agents recovering most of the stolen cash. Their most important conversation occurred one afternoon in August 1997 after Kelly paged him at work. The supervisor liked him and gave him the job. Her case closes in 2025. That sounds like a lot of money until its compared to the $18,930,201.26 the group was ordered to pay. The plan was for Ghantt to commit the actual robbery and then quickly leave the country forMexico but to leave the bulk of the cash with Chambers. We went on a mission to calculate exactly how much size-wise the money was, $11.3 million in $20 bills, and it weighed over 2,000 pounds, former FBI agent John Wydra said. "I've got a friend," she said, "who can hook you up with a new ID.". They could talk about anything, even topics he couldn't discuss with his wife. David didn't appreciate her tone. Its a once-in-a-lifetime thing, and I went down and talked to them, got to meet Zach Galifianakis and the director, Ghantt said. He says the Loomis case shows how the criminal justice system and the courts treat lower-income people differently. All of the co-defendants were arrested the next day, about six months after the heist. About six months before the Charlotte theft, on March 29, a total of $18.8 million was taken from Loomis, Fargo in Jacksonville, Fla., in what was believed to be the largest heist in U.S.. Turns out, most of the thieves and their accomplices have been about as effective coming up with their court-ordered restitution as they were hiding their original crimes. It just happened to fall on my desk.. While David Ghantt trusted Steve Chambers enough to leave his cut behind, Chambers had other plans. A woman by the name of Kelly Campbell had worked there in 1996, and she and Ghantt had become friends in that time. For example, Steve Chambers and his wife were living in a trailer and upgraded to what would today be a multi-million-dollar mansion at Cramer Mountain.
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