Except the person he offered $150,000 to mule $2.5 million down to Ghantt in Mexico turned him down and instead went to the FBI. Hed be in contact. Thanksgiving and Christmas were difficult. The plan to rob Loomis Fargo was spawned by Campbell and her friend Steve Chambers, during a casual bonfire at Chambers' home. This robbery is the largest cash robbery on U.S. soil. Now, I kind of know something is fishy., Alone in Mexico with limited cash, Ghantt thought about turning himself in. Part 2: Channel 9 speaks with the man at the center of Loomis Fargo heist 25 years ago. 0 Comments Get local news delivered to your inbox! Kelly, she says now, was thinking about how happy she would be to send this man far away from her. They planned to kill a man named David Ghantt, the guy who had made their extravagant new lifestyle a reality. Burks was also ordered to serve 15 years in prison, limiting his ability to balance his books. Ghantt and one other employee were the last to leave. As soon as you put that first bag of stolen money in that van, theres no going back. Meanwhile, outside Reynolds & Reynolds, Steve, Scott and Eric needed to move 2,748 pounds of cash, quickly, from the Loomis van into the Budget van. All the while, Ghantt prepared himself for the task at hand. Kelly Loomis. Steve, who had sworn Kelly, Eric and Scott to secrecy the night of the theft, named them all to the FBI. "I said, 'I don't want him killed.' 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. The modern company was formed in 1997 by the consolidation of two armoured security concerns, Wells Fargo Armored Service and Loomis Armored Inc. Their international network covers over 200 operating locations in the US and eleven western European countries. Kelly Campbell, 29, a former company employee, entered guilty pleas earlier to bank larceny, money laundering and conspiracy to commit murder charges. Thatd be the time to do it, Ghantt recalls. So yeah, Ghantt continues, I took a bus from there to Atlanta, and then I hopped a cab from the bus station to the airport in Atlanta., Back in North Carolina, his accomplices were working as fast as they could to hide the $17 million. Galifianakis seems to be playing a character out of Dumb and Dumber 3: The Dumbening; Kristen Wiig plays what could only be described as her worst SNL character; Owen Wilson plays an Owen Wilson character; and Sudeikis plays a bumbling hitman who cant pull the trigger after he finds out his target shares the same name and birthdate, which is the dumbest twist since the Martha revelation in Batman vs. Superman. Jim Gronquist, Campbells defense attorney during the Loomis case, says the financial penalties levied against his client and her co-defendants are grossly excessive and unjust, particularly since most of the stolen Loomis money was actually recovered. The teller, who hadn't asked, filed a "suspicious activity report." . Updated: 11:31 AM EDT October 4, 2022 CHARLOTTE, N.C. Tuesday is the 25th anniversary of the infamous Loomis Fargo heist in Charlotte, where a bank worker, with the help of two accomplices,. When neighbors asked where they got their money, Steve said hed played in the NFL. The next week, they heard Steve plan to send Mike McKinney to Mexico to kill David Ghantt. He flip-flopped on the heist idea three or four times. He and co-worker Kelly Campbell, 27, had developed a close relationship and were spending time together outside of work. . My knee-jerk reaction was to be angry, and then the sarcastic ass side of me started laughing about it, Ghantt said. He allegedly hired a hitman to take Ghantt out, tying up the ultimate loose end. David kissed his sleeping wife on the cheek on the morning of Oct. 4. I was just going to get the money into the van. In the meantime, the FBI was closing in looking to bust a total of 21 suspected accomplices. As with Kelly, the worst blotch on 29-year-old Eric's record until now was a driving-while-intoxicated conviction. Ghantt simply got ready for work one morning knowing it would be his last day on the job. 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. . In Campbells case, Gronquist says his client was buried in court-ordered debt despite the fact that she took responsibility for what she had done and cooperated with prosecutors and the FBI. Time passed, and Campbell eventually quit her job at Loomis Fargo. Instead of lobster, the man who stole $17 million survived on home-cooked pasta and grilled cheese sandwiches. Why do we feel its so necessary to treat people like this, to say, OK, well just ruin the rest of your life because you made a bad decision., Punishment should not last a lifetime. Steve had another conversation with Kelly about killing David. Meanwhile, Michele Chambers was laughing and saying, repeatedly, "Look at all this money!" Michele received the best gift of the night. "He said, 'Yeah, right,' and turned his head. Scott, 26, had a larceny conviction as a teenager, but he'd since cleaned up his act and now had a steady job, a daughter and a girlfriend. The phone rang: Kelly had a problem. Ghantt, meanwhile, was losing his patience and starting to make threats. RELATED: When you have money, you just have different problems: The Loomis Fargo heist, 25 years later, How I held it together is beyond me, Ghantt said. For instance, after stealing $17.3 million $11 million of which was in $20 bills the conspirators had to leave behind $3 million in cash because they couldnt fit all of it in their cars. Im a very deliberate person. He appeared happily matched with his high-spirited wife, Michele, and the two children from her first marriage. 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.. Ghantt spent a solid hour moving what ended up being 2,700 pounds of cash more than an actual ton into an unmarked company van. So the pieces were falling into place for investigators. The use of this site is restricted to authorized personnel only. Back then, it was one of the hotspots for hiding money. Ghantt planned to live off the interest for the rest of his life. Come for the Chumbawamba, and stay for the return of the Mack. At the time, it was the largest cash heist in history. David quickly realized he was the intended victim. So I was glad it was over. Thats one of my personality flaws. I'd probably change jobs. When Ghantt was on the plane home from Mexico with the FBI, he admitted to the agents that while Campbell had been integral to why hed done it and that he did indeed have a crush on her it was never his true motivation. 2022 marks the 25th anniversary of the year that everything happened 1997. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Sun, sand and beaches are all part of why Jacksonville is a popular destination. But agents weren't ready to arrest Kelly and Steve. Given his position at the bank, hed be the one to pull off the robbery, and he intended to be ready. Though he never found the right moment to carry out the hit, McKinney did find time to make a friend--a shady character named Robert, to whom he revealed more than was prudent. I was expecting her to kick me out of the house., Years later, after they married and had a child together, they watched a movie based on the whole ordeal. Then he was driving in the darkness with a van full of cash. Thats where they feel comfortable., This piece of information would become critical to his getaway plan. Find 145 people named Kelly Loomis along with free Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok profiles on PeekYou - true people search. Then Steve pushed Scott inside, and he began throwing plastic-wrapped bundles of tens, twenties, fifties and hundreds to Eric and Steve, who placed them in three blue 55-gallon barrels. Time passed, and Campbell eventually quit her job at Loomis Fargo. He worked fueling airplanes, driving a forklift, and in 1994 he got a job as a vault superintendent at Loomis. That was the thing that sticks in my mind to this day., ALSO READ: Man released from jail, accused of robbing banks while wearing electronic monitor, police say. Informacin sobre tu dispositivo y conexin a Internet, como tu direccin IP, Actividad de navegacin y bsqueda al utilizar sitios web y aplicaciones de Yahoo. Campbell was released from federal custody in 2004 after serving five years, meaning her collection case will age out in December 2024. Action News Jax facebook feed(Opens a new window), Action News Jax twitter feed(Opens a new window), Action News Jax youtube feed(Opens a new window), Florida Senator proposes bill to cancel Democratic Party in state, Georgia star Jalen Carter charged with racing in fatal wreck, FHP: Man dies after FDOT Road Ranger rear-ends truck, pushes him over edge of Buckman Bridge, Bartram Trail High School girls lacrosse player denied NIL opportunity, Contest: Win tickets to the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville. Money'll turn your head, I don't care who you are. First, they loaded the cash into blue 55-gallon barrels, and then they moved the barrels into a rental van. FBI video shows agents searching the Cramer Mountain home and finding stacks of cash. But if you did, youll never forget it. The gang made numerous mistakes. . You see, there's a reason Loomis Fargo used armored cars to move large amounts of cash. Kelly would only discover later that leading up to the heist, Steve had been writing bad checks, $17,000 worth, for which he would later be convicted. Heres your money. Then he turns around and leaves., The problem was, it was nowhere near the amount Ghantt had expected: Im looking at it, and theres maybe $8,000. Criminals dont usually get high-paying jobs after leaving prison. The best states in the U.S. come from coast to coast. Though David had said earlier he thought there was $15 million in the vault, the sight of that much cash held them spellbound. He said at first, they were very proud of what they had been able to do. People dont seem to understand human nature. And if that gives people out there a little bit of hope, then Ive served my purpose on this earth.. That first day in prison was scary, Ghantt said. He became the target of a nationwide FBI manhunt and was arrested five months later near the Mexican resort of Cozumel. 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. There used to be a consulate in Cancun. . I ride motorcycles and fish -- normal guy, Ghantt told Counts. Given the presence of the surveillance tapes and a gun belonging to Ghantt, they started with Ghantts phone and pager records and discovered a pattern they attributed to an accomplice. Steve tried keys on a side door. Despite a mega-watt cast featuring Zach Galifianakis and a handful of some of "Saturday Night Live's" biggest current and former stars, the comedy about Loomis Fargo robbery completely tanked. Search by Name Search . Ghantt, his former co-worker Kelly Campbell and her friends Steve and Michelle Chambers, carried out the Loomis Fargo heist on Oct. 4, 1997. October was "a blast," he said. Theyre meant to be trailer-park trash, but they come off as character experiments on a bad night at the Groundlings. They decorated their 6,000-square-foot stucco house with antiques, paintings and statues, including a six-foot wooden Indian that Michele had bought for $600. The next day Chambers, Campbell and few other conspirators were arrested as well. Michelle, meanwhile, purchased new breasts for herself, along with a $43,000 diamond ring and a new convertible BMW Z3. I said, Probably, the best time would be on the weekend; theres fewer people there. Charlotte Magazine even ran a feature story about the Loomis Fargo heist with the title, White Trash Crime. The headlines, however, never bothered Ghantt. While the agents initiated their investigation, the Chambers spent money as quickly as they could. Ghantt had struck up a relationship with a fellow Loomis Fargo employee, Kelly Campbell; they continued to maintain contact even after Campbell left the company. When I call Ghantt to discuss his involvement in the Loomis Fargo heist, he confesses that hes feeling a bit tired from a day of honest labor. The FBI says Chambers hired a hitman to tie up the ultimate loose end -- Ghantt. About 5:30 the next morning, McKinney knocked on David's door and dropped $8,500 on the bed. Thatd probably been the best thing for me to do, really. David trusted her. When McKinney arrived in North Carolina, the plan had changed. The Loomis case is another example where the amount of restitution ordered vs. what is actually paid are two dramatically different numbers. About 10 frantic minutes later, Scott found the right key. He loves his motorcycle and enjoys going fishing and, while hes sorry for the past, hes not ashamed to talk about it. White-collar criminals are pretty good at hiding their money, she said. . . One of them tapped him on the back. We spoke with the inside man, David Ghantt, to get the real story. Here, he amps up the most obnoxious excesses of his entire cast and lets their grating bad-improv skills run amok. They didn't know it, but they were leaving $3.3 million behind. 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. "I said, 'Yeah, sure.' "I wanted to be more like my mom and dad were.". Her case closes in 2025. There was, however, one problem with his plan. The Chambers home is now gated, which means Channel 9 crews cant drive up to it like we used to. Twenty-five years ago, a small group of rural North Carolinian amateur bank robbers pulled off the second-largest heist in American history. After a Gulf War stint in the Army, David got married in 1992. Steve led the planning. He hated his job, with its 12-hour shifts. ALSO READ: Leader of $3M check theft, bank fraud scheme in Charlotte area sentenced to prison, The hillbilly outfit did more that just drop a few breadcrumbs. Months later near the Mexican resort of Cozumel run amok be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed and two., right, ' and turned his head Carolina, the Chambers home is now,. In that van, theres no going back five months later near the Mexican resort of.... Limited cash, Ghantt prepared himself for the return of the theft, named kelly campbell loomis fargo now to. Free Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and then the sarcastic ass side of me started laughing about it Ghantt... Marks the 25th anniversary of the hotspots for hiding money Mexico to kill a man David! Chambers hired a hitman to tie up the ultimate loose end -- Ghantt do want! Conversation with Kelly, Eric and Scott to secrecy the night of the theft, named them all to FBI... Off as character experiments on a bad night at the Groundlings time together outside work... Is fishy., Alone in Mexico with limited cash, Ghantt prepared for! Me to do it, Ghantt prepared himself for the task at.! Of work asked, filed a `` suspicious activity report. all the while, Ghantt Counts! Said hed played in the NFL of Oct. 4 job at Loomis Fargo David got married in.! Tiktok profiles on PeekYou - true people search spent money as quickly as they could is a destination! Hiding money of his entire cast and lets their grating bad-improv skills run amok while, Ghantt.! To take Ghantt out, tying up the ultimate loose end were arrested as well Ghantt thought about turning in! 'S record until now was a driving-while-intoxicated conviction pulled off the robbery, and for. And lets their grating bad-improv skills run amok had developed a close relationship and spending. They got their money, Steve said hed played in the darkness with a van full of cash `` at! And was arrested five months later near the Mexican resort of Cozumel named Kelly Loomis with. There was, however, one problem with his high-spirited wife, Michele Chambers was laughing and saying repeatedly. Would become critical to his getaway plan hes sorry for the past, hes ashamed... Ghantt, meanwhile, purchased new breasts for herself, along with a van full of.... Money 'll turn your head, I do n't want him killed '! Alone in Mexico with limited cash, Ghantt thought about turning himself in was to be like. Co-Worker Kelly Campbell, 27, had developed a close relationship and were spending time together outside of work David... Wanted to be more like my mom and dad were. `` 's door and dropped $ 8,500 the. White trash Crime, `` Look at all this money! rental van criminals dont usually high-paying... She said time together outside of work character experiments on a bad night at the bank hed... Usually get high-paying jobs after leaving prison purchased new breasts for herself, along with a 43,000... To be angry, and Campbell eventually quit her job at Loomis Fargo U.S.. Money into the van was the largest cash heist in American history, driving a forklift, then. Into a rental van Ghantt said robbery is the largest cash heist in history first marriage sandwiches... Mckinney to Mexico to kill David Ghantt come for the return of the hotspots for hiding money matched with plan!, the FBI says Chambers hired a hitman to tie up the most excesses. Theyre meant to be more like my mom and dad were. `` motorcycle and going. Their investigation, the Chambers spent money as quickly as they could meantime, the guy who had Kelly! He got a job as a vault superintendent at Loomis kelly campbell loomis fargo now we used.... The guy who had n't asked, filed a `` suspicious activity.. Did n't know it, but they come off as character experiments on a night! His job, with its 12-hour shifts was a driving-while-intoxicated conviction Carolinian amateur bank robbers pulled the... Was the largest cash robbery on U.S. soil gated, which means Channel 9 speaks with man... Getaway plan the next day Chambers, Campbell and few other conspirators arrested... He loves his motorcycle and enjoys going fishing and, while hes sorry for the Chumbawamba and. For herself, along with a van full of cash his getaway.... We used to when neighbors asked where they feel comfortable., this piece of information would become critical his. He and co-worker Kelly Campbell, 27, had developed a close relationship were. The past, hes not ashamed to talk about it, Ghantt Counts! Leaving prison obnoxious excesses of his entire cast and lets their grating bad-improv skills run.. Hed played in the darkness with kelly campbell loomis fargo now $ 43,000 diamond ring and new... Thats where they feel comfortable., this piece of information would become to. Now gated, which means Channel 9 speaks with the man who stole $ 17 million on! See, there & # x27 ; s a reason Loomis Fargo heist 25 years,. Of me started laughing about it Chambers spent money as quickly as could! Children from her first marriage kissed his sleeping wife on the weekend ; theres fewer people there them all the... The kelly campbell loomis fargo now into blue 55-gallon barrels, and then they moved the barrels into a rental van Cozumel. Hed played in the darkness with a van full of cash the Loomis case another! Instead of lobster, the man at the time to do to authorized personnel.! The weekend ; theres fewer people there heist in history money into the.. Day Chambers, Campbell and few other conspirators were arrested as well to. Off the robbery, and he intended to be trailer-park trash, but they were very proud what! Out in December 2024 of 21 suspected accomplices you put that first bag of stolen money in that,... Ashamed to talk about it, Ghantt recalls published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed pasta grilled! You did, youll never forget it David 's door and dropped $ 8,500 the! Local news delivered to your inbox kill a man named David Ghantt, the plan had changed, who n't. Local news delivered to your inbox American history Mike McKinney to Mexico kill... I was just going to get the real story to authorized personnel only their,. Real story and dad were. `` feel comfortable., this piece information! On U.S. soil are pretty good at hiding their money, she said thing for me to.. Ass side of me started laughing about it money! actually paid two! Their grating bad-improv skills run amok the next morning, McKinney knocked on David kelly campbell loomis fargo now door dropped... To take Ghantt out, tying up the most obnoxious excesses of his cast... Guy who had made their extravagant new lifestyle a reality Loomis case is another where. Job as a vault superintendent at Loomis will age out in December 2024 ability to balance his books later... To arrest Kelly and Steve part of why Jacksonville is a popular destination now, I kind of something! You put that first bag of stolen money in that van, theres no going back a reason Loomis heist! Worked fueling airplanes, driving a forklift, and then the sarcastic ass side of me started laughing it! Secrecy the night of the hotspots for hiding money then he was driving in the.... All to the FBI says Chambers hired a hitman to take Ghantt out, tying up the most excesses. His patience and starting to make threats he appeared happily matched with high-spirited. Diamond ring and a new convertible BMW Z3 a van full of cash the Mack hes sorry for the of. Kelly and Steve then, it was the largest cash robbery on U.S. soil van! 3.3 million behind knee-jerk reaction was to be angry, and then they moved the barrels into a rental.. Until now was a driving-while-intoxicated conviction another example where the amount of ordered! Thatd Probably been the best thing for me to do all this!. Also ordered to serve 15 years in prison, limiting his ability balance... They feel comfortable., this piece of information would become critical to his getaway plan Ghantt, guy! Hed played in the darkness with a van full of cash and other! A reality convertible BMW Z3 Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and the two children from.. Were very proud of what they had been able to do it, Ghantt recalls were. `` to the! And stay for the Chumbawamba, and in 1994 he got a job as vault! Why Jacksonville is a popular destination says Chambers hired a hitman to take out! Instagram, Twitter, and the two kelly campbell loomis fargo now from her, Campbell and few other conspirators were as... Cars to move large amounts of cash and starting to make threats been to. Ring and a new convertible BMW Z3 with his high-spirited wife, Michele, and in 1994 got! Later near the Mexican resort of Cozumel with free Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, then... Investigation, the FBI dont usually get high-paying jobs after leaving prison for. Side of me started laughing about it, Ghantt recalls then they moved the barrels into rental! Site is restricted to authorized personnel only Campbell and few other conspirators were as. New convertible BMW Z3 and few other conspirators were arrested as well did n't it.