You Won’t Believe What Happened to the $17M Loomis Fargo Thief After the Heist

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In 2016, the film “Masterminds” was released in cinemas, combining ridiculous humor and outlandish actions to narrate one of the most incredible heists in American history – the Loomis Fargo Robbery. Based on true events, the movie traces the journey of David Scott Ghantt, a rather ordinary armored car driver who gets caught up in a plan to steal millions, but ultimately finds himself betrayed and forced into hiding. While “Masterminds” might not rank among the top comedy-heist films, it’s still worth watching for its absurdity.

Despite some doubts about its entertainment value, the actual tale of the $17 million heist is a fascinating blend of “partly foolish and partly genius,” as described by the FBI agents who solved the case. This book or article will delve into the details of the robbery, Ghantt’s life on the run, and his ultimate destiny – offering an account of how the Loomis Fargo heist truly transpired, and shedding light on where David Scott Ghantt is now.

How The Loomis Fargo Robbery Went Down, Explained

It Happened In The Late 1990s

In 1997, David Ghantt, a driver of armored vehicles, got promoted to vault supervisor at Loomis Fargo. He became friends with Kelly Campbell. After learning about a $18 million robbery of a Loomis Fargo facility in Florida that same year, Ghantt and Campbell devised a plan to steal from the Charlotte branch where Ghantt worked. FBI investigators speculate that Campbell may have collaborated on the heist plot with her friend Steve Chambers, who was under investigation for writing checks worth more than $30,000 that bounced. Regardless of his role in the planning, Chambers played a crucial part in the robbery.

On October 4th, 1997, Ghantt wrapped up his work at Loomis and later revisited the vault. He left the door ajar. Smoothly, Ghantt filled bags with cash totaling over $17 million and transported it into a van. Later, he linked up with Campbell and Chambers. Ghantt pocketed $50,000 of the $17 million and made a run for Mexico (as reported by Axios Charlotte).

What Masterminds Gets Right About The Heist

Key Details Are Kept In The Film

As a fanatic of the story, I’d say that Masterminds accurately captures many essential details regarding the Loomis Fargo Robbery. In the real-life events, David Ghantt was indeed an employee at Loomis Fargo, serving as an armored car driver. Post the heist, he did flee to Mexico, just like in the movie. The modus operandi of the robbery depicted in the film is remarkably similar to what actually transpired. In essence, Ghantt and his team managed to pilfer over $17 million by subtly opening the vault and filling bags with cash before transporting them into a truck, much like portrayed on screen.

As a movie enthusiast, let me point out an intriguing detail: in the film, Michael Ghantt removed almost all the CCTV tapes from the office, leaving only one behind. Interestingly, the actual count was three tapes, but in the movie’s context, there were four. Despite his oversight, the authorities managed to track down Ghantt and his team primarily due to that single tape he neglected to erase.

Important Details The Movie Leaves Out

A Major Factor In Ghantt’s Motivation Isn’t Included

Adapting a film from a true story is quite challenging. Making an accurate adaptation of a tale rooted in truth is almost unattainable, so “Masterminds” undeniably made some artistic modifications when it came to its source material. In contrast to the movie’s portrayal, Ghantt did not attempt to escape to Mexico alone, but instead tried to flee with Kelly Campbell, who was played by the consistently amusing Kristen Wiig. Instead of going to Mexico, they went to the Columbia Airport in South Carolina, where there were no direct flights available.

After Ghantt left for Atlanta to board a flight, Campbell remained in Charlotte. Although this detail is minor, it would have been intriguing if Masterminds had delved deeper into the relationship between Gnatt and Campbell or fleshed out Campbell’s character more. Perhaps the movie could have included a poignant airport scene where they said their goodbyes, which would have given the story an emotional depth.

A key disparity between the actual Loomis Fargo robbery and Masterminds lies in the fact that, contrary to the movie version, Ghantt was married and had a family at the time of the heist. In reality, his primary reason for robbing the facility was due to financial difficulties, specifically his inability to cover his mounting credit card debts and support his family (as reported by Axios Charlotte). In contrast, the movie portrays Ghantt as lacking a family as his driving force behind the robbery.

Incorporating a rich domestic life for the character Ghantt in “Masterminds” would have intensified the narrative, as he would not only be worried about imprisonment but also the well-being of his family. If Ghantt had a spouse like Campbell, it would have introduced an intriguing element to their relationship, creating tension and potentially even humor within the story. Regrettably, Ghantt’s absence of a family in “Masterminds” appears to be a missed chance, as this aspect could have enriched the story with more conflict and possibly comedy.

What Cast And Creatives Have Said About Masterminds’ True Story

They Thought The Story And Its Characters Were Compelling

In an interview with Cinemovie, filmmaker Jared Hess, known for his hit movie “Napoleon Dynamite”, shared details about encountering the genuine David Ghantt. He revealed the process of creating a character inspired by a real individual.

In my perspective, encountering David revealed a certain innocence in him. This characteristic, much like a primary character in a story, significantly influenced the emotional tone of the film for me. I aimed to preserve this authentic aspect throughout the production process. The humor that emerged felt fitting at the PG-13 rating level – it seemed to align perfectly with the overall vibe and innocence we wanted to portray.

In a conversation with USA Today, actor Zach Galifianakis delved into the meaning of “Masterminds” for the actual character David Ghantt, as portrayed in the film.

David told me he found the movie to be both humorous and comical, causing him to laugh heartily. I suggested we highlight that on the poster. From David’s perspective, this movie represents a joyful conclusion, although I can’t help but feel that the many years lost can never truly be replaced.

It’s noteworthy that Zach Galifianakis, hailing from North Carolina – the location of the heist – had acquaintances among those implicated, including Steve Chambers, a connection reported by USA Today.

Where Ghantt And Other Major Players In The Robbery Are Now

Ghantt Has Started Fresh In Florida

In the movie “Mastermind”, Chambers is shown to hire a hitman to kill Ghantt. However, contrary to the film’s portrayal, Ghantt did not form a friendship with the hired assassin. Instead, it was the FBI who intercepted Ghantt’s call to Chambers, requesting more money, which ultimately led to their intervention and inadvertently sparing Ghantt from being killed. Subsequently, Ghantt was extradited back to the United States, where he received a seven-year prison sentence and was fined $26,000.

24 individuals, including Steve Chambers, his wife Michelle, Kelly Campbell, and several others, were detained by the FBI shortly after Ghantt, all in relation to the Loomis Fargo robbery. In total, this arrest spree took place in 2005. Ghantt was subsequently released in 2006 and now resides in Jacksonville, Florida. He is married and has a daughter of teenage years, but little else is known about his family life (as reported by Action News Jax).

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2025-04-21 04:13