Herreal-life counterpart isRobin Ramirez, who police considered the ringleader of the criminal operation. Queenpins vs. the True Story of the Real Counterfeit Coupon Ring She was sentenced to two years in prison, followed by seven years probation. She is also known for her appearances in Killing Eve and Cruella. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to clean the money theyve made from selling coupons. A pair of housewives create a $40 million coupon scam. Released in the United States on September 10, 2021 by STXfilms, the film received mixed reviews from critics and was a box office bomb, grossing only $1.2 million against a $20 million production budget. On the case to bust them: a supermarkets loss-prevention officer and a US postal inspector, played by Paul Walter HauserandVince Vaughn, respectively. It is also revealed that Connie, after numerous unsuccessful attempts to conceive following her miscarriage, is finally pregnant through in vitro fertilization. She has spent her life chatting about popular media to anyone who would listen, even appearing on conference panels to discuss her favorite (and least favorite) shows and movies. Yes, a bear actually did consumer millions of dollars worth of cocaine. Kristen Bell, her The Good Place co-star Kirby Howell-Baptiste, and singer Bebe Rexha are set to star in an upcoming comedy calledQueenpins, in which they play a trio of women who make bank in a coupon counterfeiting scam but the massive real-life fraud that inspired the film was no laughing matter. And why Bell and co-star Paul Walter Houser didnt talk to the real people behind the characters they play. In real life, the Phoenix Police Department led the investigation with the assistance of the FBI. Thecomedy Queenpins features a talented cast coming together to tell a crazy true story. The vehicles included a custom Corvette that was worth over $150,000. "You've got yourself an eighteen-karat run of bad luck, kid.". In July of 2012, police raided Ramirez's home andseized more than $25 million worth of fake coupons. Paul Walter Hauser's character, Ken Miller, seems to be a very loosely-inspired caricature of Bud Miller, the Executive Director of the Coupon Information Corporation (CIC). This is much more inspired So we dont really know anything about the real players and we kind of didnt want to. It stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Paul Walter Hauser, Bebe Rexha, and Vince Vaughn. The coupons were sold on a site called Savvy Shopper Site, to which interested parties had to be referred or invited directly to use. It might have been more interesting to have lead police officer on the case a woman, as it was in the actual arrest. (music by) Cinematography by Andrew Wehde . A look at the counterculture movement that became the religious right. She suggestsmaking fake identities and multiple accounts to store their earnings. Annie MumoloasCrystal - Mumolo appears in the minor role of Crystal. David Lake said. Queenpins: Dirigido por Aron Gaudet, Gita Pullapilly. His filmography contains works such as Face/Off, The Astronaut's Wife, and The Hangover Part II, and he will next be appearing inThe Ogilvy Fortune. The real Queenpins' mugshots are displayed below. The duo bond on their mission, with Simon sympathizing with Ken's unwavering devotion. Vince Vaughnas Simon Kilmurry -Vince Vaughn plays Simon Kilmurry, a U.S. postal inspector who works with Ken to investigate the coupon scam. When we use coupons, we feel like we're getting away with something, like we're smart and special. Capitalism always knows how to win. She was sentenced to two years in prison, with credit for 287 days served, and seven years of supervised probation. The film's largely painful humor is informed by the mistaken belief that the main characters' criminal enterprise is inherently quirky. While JoJo is released on bail, Rick visits Connie only so he can admonish her, having been informed by Simon that she and JoJo have defrauded over 240 companies of tens of millions of dollars. Why the USPS? Is Queenpins on Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, or Prime? 17:42 EST 23 Jul 2021. Much the same can be said for Paul Walter Houser, who plays Ken Miller, the loss prevention officer that uncovers and eventually busts Connie and Jojos scam. You know what, I bet if a better actor were playing Ken Miller, thered probably be a little fine tooth combing involved with the world of loss prevention. A quarter of the U.S. will fall inside an extreme heat belt. They contact the hacker who stole JoJos identity, Tempe Tina, and are taken to her secret location, where she instructs the pair on how to conceal their operation and secure their money, suggesting they use JoJos cosmetics brand Back 2 Black to disguise their coupon business. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. Instead, Hauser's character is a loss-prevention officer for a grocery store chain. He has been commended by the FBI for supporting them in numerous efforts to fight "complex coupon fraud schemes." The story of the three womens 2012 arrests for coupon fraud is back in the news, as the major motion picture they inspired is set to open in theaters this Friday. Coupon enthusiast Jill Cataldo warns, "Even though many places sell coupons online, you should never buy them. Procter & Gamble $1,288,682 in reimbursement. Kirby Howell-Baptiste co-stars as JoJo Johnson, an aspiring YouTube vlogger and Connie's partner in crime. Law-enforcement authorities, manufacturers, and retailers advise against purchasing coupons. You can't make this stuff up - and the filmmakers didn't have to. But nobody really thought it was a big deal, because, you know, its coupons.. Autumn has a Master of Arts in English from Northern Michigan University, where she also taught superhero-themed composition courses. They start buying things like sports cars, boats, planes, and guns, but Tina then criticizes their overspending and tells them that because their money was always clean, their purchases are just making them look more suspicious, instructing them to withdraw money from the bank in small increments and to sell off all their big purchases. You could only place an order if you had a referral from a current customer, and you had to pay for your order with a Green Dot Moneypak (prepaid debit card). -TIME. They enjoy their newfound wealth, only to have their criminal enterprise crumble when they are investigated, raided, and arrested. You don't always get your way. Queenpins (2021) Rated R for language throughout. Carly Stern For Dailymail.com, Dax Shepard wishes wife Kristen Bell a happy 41st birthday: 'Here's wishing you another 100 years in the saddle', Conwoman, 60, accused of posing as gem expert to swap diamonds worth 4.2m for pebbles was caught on CCTV outside Mayfair jeweller Boodles the day before heist, court hears. Kiara frowned, watching the usually stoic Ame toss and turn in the driver's seat. Connie, JoJo, Simon (Vince Vaughn) and Ken (Paul Walter Hauser) arewhat Aron and I feelwhat we're all often feeling in this life: undervalued and discounted. Shedisplays considerable comedy chopsin films like Bad Momsand is also well-known for her role as Anna inDisney's Frozen franchise. Nick CassavetesasCaptain Pain - Cassavetes plays Captain Pain in Queenpins. In July 2012, police in Phoenix, Arizona arrested three women in a coupon scam that cost manufacturers roughly $40 million. The postal inspector tells Connie it's 1 year for every $100,000 earned fraudulently and that she's looking at 40 years. Husband-and-wife filmmakers Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly did fly to Arizona in 2018 to interview the real detective who worked the case. In a later scene, another postal service worker says they stole 40 million in counterfeit coupons. 'Queenpins' Review: Suburban Scammers Two cash-strapped neighbors devise a multimillion-dollar coupon swindle in this mildly entertaining comedy. Along with paying Procter & Gamble millions of dollars, Ramirez had to serve jail time. Greg Garcia, a cashier at her local A&G Family Marts store, explains to her that companies habitually respond to complaint letters by sending coupons for free items. Ramirez, too, declined to respond to requests for comment. Kristen Anne Bell (born 1980) is an American actress and singer. Mugshots of the real women behind Queenpins are displayed below. We're all looking for a loophole to find our joy and happiness in life." Kristen Bell as Connie Kaminski and Kirby Howell-Baptiste as JoJo Johnson in QUEENPINS. One local law enforcement official at the time told the news: The opulence and the money was the equivalent of drug cartel-type of stuff. And after reading the script and falling massively in love with it, because it was such a grounded comedy, I did some research about these women. "You are spending money we don't have," her husband says, looking at what was once supposed to be a nursery, now converted into what looks like a grocery warehouse. Paul Walter Hauseras Ken Miller -Paul Walter Hauser plays Loss Prevention Officer Ken Miller, whoserather unexciting job takes a turn when he discovers the fake coupon scheme. Queenpins Cast And Character Guide: Where You Know The Actors From, Worth Cast & Character Guide: What The Real People Look Like, Free Guy Cast, Characters & All Cameos Guide, Q-Force Cast & Character Guide: Where You Know The Actors From. "I am not spending money!" And in terms of the crime itself, Queenpins stayed pretty loyal. The duo then interview a group of postal workers, who remember JoJo, especially because Earl is always watching her videos. Directed and written by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, the movie stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Vince Vaughn, Paul Walter Hauser, and Bebe Rexha. These are free item coupons,' Police Sgt. After he retired from the force, he took what he had learned from this case and others like it to found the Center on Shadow Economics, which works to mitigate the economic impact of black market crimes like counterfeit couponing. Afterwards, the duo begins their own website and small business "Savvy Super Saver", which helps them sell numerous coupons and generate profit. Queenpins - Contemporary Robin Hoods grounded in the real world However, everything that's built onto this premise in the movie is almost entirely fictional. Real Stories is an ongoing column about the true stories behind movies and TV shows. You know what, I bet if a better actor were playing Ken Miller, thered probably be a little fine tooth combing involved with the world of loss prevention. FREE FIRE TOP 3 GAME REAL CHARACTER para SAMSUNG A3,A5,A6 A7,J2,J5,J7,S5,S6 S7,S9,A10,A20 A30,A50 Its that simple. Others nabbed coupons for free pet food, diapers, and household goods from as many as 40 major manufacturers, including PepsiCo and Hershey. In the movie, Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste play Connie and Jojo, a pair of best friends from Phoenix who love extreme couponing. Vince Vaughn's other moviesincludemany big-budget action films and comedies such as The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, and Wedding Crashers. In Queenpins, its Ken Miller who pleads with the FBI to get involved, but in the end, he ends up working with Vince Vaughns postal inspector character, with the reasoning being that the crime was technically committed via snail mail. A charge for forgery was dropped. David Lake of the Phoenix Police Department. -TIME, Copyright 2023 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media. The other two women pleaded guilty to a single charge of counterfeiting. A look at what really happened with the characters of Andrew Dominiks 2007 Western epic. Marilyn Johnson, 54, Robin Ramirez, 40, and Amiko Fountain, 42, were taken into custody, and in a press conference, police said a search warrant served resulted in the seizing of $40 million worth of coupons and $2 million worth of assets from the womens homes, including $240,000 in vehicles, 22 guns, and a 40-foot speedboat. Here's the cast and character guide for Queenpins, along with comparisons to some of the characters' counterparts in real life. 'Queenpins': Here's the Real Story Behind Kristen Bell's - Yahoo! Ame hissed, "Getting partnered with someone like me. At the time of her arrest, investigators discovered Ramirez had four online accounts and 12 bank accounts. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Coupons in the News features daily news stories and information about coupons, grocery shopping and saving money. No, not at all, Bell told TheWrap. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. The true story behind Queenpins reveals that the women bought them in bulk overseas and then posted them for sale on sites like eBay and their own website, SavvyShopperSite.com, which is now defunct. Ramirez, the ringleader, was the only one sentenced to prison time two years while her counterparts got probation. But during Proctor & Gamble'sroutine audits ofthird-party coupon processors, the discovered fakes in circulation and hired private investigators to do some more digging. She also was ordered to pay restitution of up to $5 million. No. You know what, I bet if a better actor were playing Ken Miller, thered probably be a little fine tooth combing involved with the world of loss prevention. She and JoJo then learn that the coupons originate from an Advanced Solutions factory in Chihuahua, Mexico, deciding to travel there and collect the coupons to redistribute to other mothers and wives. Marilyn Johnson, 54, Robin Ramirez, 40, and Amiko Fountain, 42, were taken into custody, and in a press conference, police said a search warrant served resulted in the seizing of $40 million worth of coupons and $2 million worth of assets from the womens homes, including $240,000 in vehicles, 22 guns, and a 40-foot speedboat. Queenpinsdebuted in theaters on September 10, 2021. That is the basic premise of Queenpins, a comedy reuniting The Good Place co-stars Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste as the two leads. But its funny that its gotten so much attention, Lake said. He also explained the counterfeit coupon case to Gaudet and Pullapilly, who sought him out after their curiosity was piqued when they first read about the crime. The three women, Robin Ramirez, Amiko Fountain, and Marilyn Johnson, mostly sold free-product coupons. The Phoenix Police Department conducted undercover operations in which they purchased the counterfeit coupons. Though the pair face forty-years-to-life, the companies that they victimized clandestinely press the courts for leniency to avoid bad press, resulting in ten days imprisonment plus one year of probation for JoJo and eleven months incarceration (parole eligible in eight) for Connie. And after reading the script and falling massively in love with it, because it was such a grounded comedy, I did some research about these women. Click here to get in touch, or for information about advertising on the site. The REAL story behind Kristen Bell's upcoming movie Queenpins 'Queenpins' Plot Summary For example, a person could use a $25 coupon to purchase a $15 bag of dog food and receive the difference in cash. He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. Ramirez, Fountain and Johnson were charged and convicted for running their very own $40 million counterfeit coupon scheme, for which theyre still paying the price and may well be for the rest of their lives. Watch Queenpins: Bebe Rexha On The Experience She's Had So Far Acting In Her First Film Photos 17 Top cast Edit Kristen Bell Connie Kirby JoJo (as Kirby Howell-Baptiste) Paul Walter Hauser Ken Bebe Rexha Tempe Tina Lidia Porto Mrs. Flores Joel McHale Rick Greta Oglesby Mama Josie Eduardo Franco Greg (Cashier) Ben Sidell Man in Line Nneoma Sampson She lives with her mother and is trying to be an entrepreneur with a series of YouTube videos featuring tips on saving. Review: Scamming Audiences with Sophomoric Humor and Dubious Politics. The ring used a series of twelve different bank accounts to house their money. No Offense, But These 2 Big Retailers Aren't The Cheapest Ad MoneyWise. Ramirezs case was back before a judge as recently as July, when her probation officer reported she was falling behind on her share of the nearly $1.3 million in restitution payments she and her cohorts were ordered to pay. If you can get an unlimited number of those, think how this grows" (Yahoo Finance). But Aron [Gaudet]and Gita [Pullapilly], as storytellers our writer and directors have added so many specific elements of storytelling to this about what Connies career was, what Jojos career was, their circumstances in life in order to create a story that you would root for, and then it sort of goes into the nonfiction aspect that it sort of wasnt maybe as necessary to take on a ton of the real life characteristics of the women.. 'Queenpins': Here's the Real Story Behind Kristen Bell - TheWrap The amount covered all of P&G's losses, for the fake coupons as well as extra manpower needed to deal with the issue. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to clean the money theyve made from selling coupons. In the movie, Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste play Connie and Jojo, a pair of best friends from Phoenix who love extreme couponing. There's a reason Bell is making quips about crime. According to Time magazine, they went undercover and purchased coupons as part of their effort to locate the source. Except that these ladies sold unauthorized or forged coupons for a fraction of the face value to consumers who used them to get lots and lots of stuff without paying for it. The real-life Queenpins: How three Arizona women were busted with $25 MILLION in counterfeit coupons they were selling online - and inspired a new movie starring Kristen Bell Although both women also had to financially reimburse P&G, they did not have to serve jail time for their part in the scheme. Queenpins Writers Balance Comedic Tone with Real-Life Drama in Coupon Caper By: Shanee Edwards Kirby Howell-Baptiste as JoJo Johnson and Kristen Bell as Connie Kaminski in QUEENPINS. They encounter married employees Alejandro and Rosa Diaz, who agree to send them the unused coupons. And the women wont be getting any windfall from Queenpins. The coupons are being sent through the mail and the FBI does not take it seriouslybecause it's coupons. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. Eventually, they brought in Phoenix police, who conducted aneight-week investigation. That's one reasonbeyond saving moneythe scam was so successful. The comedy Queenpins features a talented cast coming together to tell a crazy true story. Queenpins is playing in theaters with plans to stream on Paramount+ in the near future. But thats just Connie and Jojo. The movie, which premieres September 10, offers a comical take on the true story ofRobin Ramirez, Amiko Fountain, and Marilyn Johnson of Phoenix, Arizona, who were arrested in 2012 for their years-long counterfeitingracket and ordered to pay P&G millions in restitution. Credit: Courtesy STX Films. They were also ordered to pay Proctor & Gamble more than $1.2 million. Ken is the kind of guy who desperately wants to present himself as a stoic, but when alone, screams in rage. David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHOat the time. Queenpins (2021) - IMDb Together, they set up a website called Savvy Super Saver, and eventually make millions of dollars in turn, costing multiple manufacturers millions of dollars. Postal Inspector lead the investigation into their activities, encountering multiple humorous setbacks along the way. I was very excited when I saw on the front page of the script that was based on a true story. Because at Coupons In The News, we believe an educated consumer is the best couponer! Netherlands ($200,244), United Arab Emirates ($123,281), Hungary ($88,609), Croatia ($41,810), Lithuania ($18,354), Iceland ($11,774), South Africa ($5,900) and Portugal ($5,501). And I think it comes from loneliness and feeling isolated and kind of under-utilized or under-appreciated. Bud is a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) and an industry veteran. Yes, like the grocery store coupons that come with the Sunday paper. And where does that curmudgeonly frame come from? The counterfeiting scheme was previously featured in the. Aron and I were immediately drawn to the story and had to understand it more, Pullapilly said. From writer-directors Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, the film stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Ba. [Resumes eating snacks and looking out the window], Watch Queenpins: Gita Pullapilly & Aron Gaudet On Why Kristen Bell And Kirby Howell-Baptiste Were Right For Their Roles, Watch Queenpins: Kristen Bell On How She Became Involved In The Film, Watch Queenpins: Paul Walter Hauser On What Drew Him To The Film, Watch Queenpins: Kirby Howell-Baptiste On How She Became Involved In The Film, Watch Queenpins: Bebe Rexha On The Experience She's Had So Far Acting In Her First Film. Judge Daniel Martin sentenced her to 24 months, as well as seven years probation. Read about the latest trends in couponing, get some new coupon alerts and keep up with stories across the country and around the world that have to do with coupons, the companies that issue them and the consumers who use them. Queenpins is a 2021 American comedy film written and directed by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly. Woman on Plane: Hey sorry, uhm, would you mind if we switched seats, just for this last part? Just to make him more sympathetic, in addition to the $2 an hour, he has a pregnant wife who also works at the factory. "This is to American companies who produced American products and hire American citizens" (DSA). 'We gotta steal these coupons and sell them to families who really need them. Kristen Bell And Kirby Howell-Baptiste Run A Multi-Million Dollar Coupon Scam In The 'Queenpins' Trailer. [3] In July 2020, it was announced Paul Walter Hauser and Vince Vaughn had joined the cast of the film. By A real disc jockey inspired Robin Williams classic character. The women sold their counterfeit coupons on various online sites, including eBay and their own website, SavvyShopperSite.com. Many of the details of the real story have been changed, including the names, but also backstories to make the characters more sympathetic. Whatever Happened to the Real-Life "Queenpins"? They interview people from grocery stores that the ladies frequent, almost all of whom recognize Connie due to her constantly irritating coupon usage, even successfully linking her to the "Savvy Super Saver" website as she uses its slogan while shopping. JoJo combines two people in real life:Amiko Fountain and Marilyn Johnson. It's not a seamless fit. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. In this film we have one of the world's most adorable people, Kristen Bell, with her delightful "The Good Place" co-star Kirby Howell-Baptiste as the two women who almost make a multi-million dollar crime seem cute. Hauser previouslyworked with Howell-Baptiste in Cruella and also appeared in I, Tonya. Her term of probation was recently extended for another five years, after she fell more than $4,000 behind in her restitution payments. The film is based on the true story of three Arizona women arrested in 2012 for a $40 million fraud involving coupons. Authorities also seized twenty-two assault weapons and twenty-one vehicles, including a forty-foot boat, in the raid. Follow and/or unfollow him on Twitter. The CIC and some of its members were on location in a mobile command unit watching the bust." After gathering sufficient evidence, Simon and Ken finally get agents to arrest the pair. Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste, playing the lead roles, are as spectacular as ever. From left, Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste. Included in the seizures were $25,000,000 worth of fake coupons, 22 assault weapons, and 21 vehicles including a 40 foot boat. And after reading the script and falling massively in love with it, because it was such a grounded comedy, I did some research about these women. They included coupons for anything from Hershey bars to dog food to diapers. 'Queenpins' Summary & Ending, Explained - Digital Mafia Talkies (edited by) Casting By Ben Harris Allison Jones Production Design by Jennifer Klide Art Direction by Adri Siriwatt Costume Design by Julie Carnahan Makeup Department Production Management Mike Upton . "We're Robin Hood," the queenpins reassure themselves. Queenpins - Wikipedia In real life, the FBI did get involved, along with the non-profit Coupon Information Center. In the movie, Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste play Connie and Jojo, a pair of best friends from Phoenix who love extreme couponing. The movie takes a more lighthearted angle on the real story, having to combine ortweak some of the people involved in order towork better as a film. Lets break it down. And I just want to play the humanity of the guy while adding some comedic elements to him.. After a particularly frustrating day, Connie writes a complaint letter to General Mills about the Wheaties she ate being stale, and soon, she receives a coupon for a free box of cereal. When Phoenix police seized the counterfeit coupons and the women's assets, they discovered computer records that listed all of the customers who had purchased coupons from the women. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. Ramirez, then 40, Fountain, then 42, and Johnson, then 54, were arrested andcharged with counterfeiting, forgery, money laundering, operating an illegal enterprise, and other crimes. Visitors to the Savvy Shopper Site website could buy high-value coupons offering free items like detergent, diapers, pet food and more, for pennies on the dollar.
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