In a later scene, another postal service worker says they stole 40 million in counterfeit coupons. They'd then sell them on eBay and a website, SavvyShopperSite, for a profit. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. However, they quickly learned that with a little crime, they could actually make money off of it. In July 2012, police in Phoenix, Arizona arrested three women in a coupon scam that cost manufacturers roughly $40 million. They were a part of a fast-rising category referred to as "pink collar criminals," "nice" suburban women who commit non-violent crimes, mostly fraud or embezzling from businesses or from community organizations like the PTA. Fountain and Johnson each pleaded guilty to one charge of counterfeiting. Yes. YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. That's one reasonbeyond saving moneythe scam was so successful. Dejected and frustrated suburban housewife Connie Kaminski (ne Stevens), a three-time gold-medal-winning former Olympic racewalker, has followed the conventional life path set for her by society ever since she was young. Thats why they say Robin Hood, thats why they say the fat cats on Wall Street deserve it, thats why they say these corporations are evil. Not because they believe any of that, but so they dont feel guilty about their own actions. His message to coupon wrongdoers is, yes, you got a good deal. Ben Stiller serves as an executive producer under his Red Hour Productions banner. Lets break it down. Queenpins is playing in theaters with plans to stream on Paramount+ in the near future. On a message board, one fan raved about paying $7 for a mega pack of Pampers, with no max value meaning a shopper could get more than $50 worth of product free. Okeniyi appeared in The Hunger Games and Run Sweetheart Run, and his next role is in Greek Freak. She was sentenced to two years in prison, with credit for 287 days served, and seven years of supervised probation. Judge Daniel Martin sentenced her to 24 months, as well as seven years probation. 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). It appeared the women were making so much money, they werent even sure how to spend it all. Produced by Music by Siddhartha Khosla . The last 20 minutes lose sight of whatever point they are trying to make beyond the fun of seeing people get away with breaking the rules. We dont want people to think they can do this, he said. "[Ringleader Robin Ramirez] would bring in these coupons from overseas in large quantities, quantities we never could imagine and she would sell them on her website for about 50 percent of face value," said Sgt. Watching "Queenpins" is like eating grocery store birthday cake. SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER, FIRST TAKE, July 2012, police in Phoenix, Arizona arrested three women, Queenpins Trailer: Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste Are the Robin Hood of Coupons (Video), Netflixs The Sandman TV Series Casts Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death. She portrays a fictional computer hacker named Tempe Tina, who helps the two main characters with their coupon scam. Perhaps the most telling sign that things weren't on the up-and-up was the fact that the site advised, "Please do not share this information with people that you don't actually know. "I'm saving money!" The details were first revealed after a Tuesday morning raid in July 2012 by the Phoenix Arizona Police Department. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Ken Bruce finishes his 30-year tenure as host of BBC Radio 2, Ukrainian soldier takes out five tanks with Javelin missiles, Family of a 10-month-old baby filmed vaping open up, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Hershey's Canada releases HER for SHE bars featuring a trans activist, Moment teenager crashes into back of lorry after 100mph police race. After a shootout breaks out at a jazz club in the heart of town over a 'transaction' gone wrong, the Shrimps of Ocean Street and the Deadbeats of Industrial Way prepare to fight. Details of the true story at the heart of Queenpinswere first revealed in July 2012. And I think it comes from loneliness and feeling isolated and kind of under-utilized or under-appreciated. I'd call it a buddy film on a couple of levels: The main characters, Connie and Jo, and then the sub-characters, Simon and Ken. He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. Here's the cast and character guide for Queenpins, along with comparisons to some of the characters' counterparts in real life. She lives with her mother and is trying to be an entrepreneur with a series of YouTube videos featuring tips on saving. The comedy Queenpins is inspired by the largest coupon scam in U.S. history. Her next acting roleisfor the movie Confess, Fletch. 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. For the most part, yes. She was sentenced to two years in prison, followed by seven years probation. 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 cant make this stuff up and the filmmakers didnt have to. Queenpins has arrived in theaters and on Paramount+, telling the story of the countrys largest counterfeit coupon scam. And the women wont be getting any windfall from Queenpins. she says. The women guaranteed a one-hundred-percent return rate if a store rejected one of their 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. David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHO at the time. In the movie, Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste play Connie and Jojo, a pair of best friends from Phoenix who love extreme couponing. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. The trailer for Queenpinsincludes audio of Bell and Howell-Baptistes characters calling out systemic inequality and likening themselves to Robin Hood. According to Sgt. Their script is so nuanced and the words are chosen so perfectly. The duo then interview a group of postal workers, who remember JoJo, especially because Earl is always watching her videos. They were just two normal women, who felt taken advantage of by major corporations, and genuinely wanted to help other women and families who were struggling. And I just want to play the humanity of the guy while adding some comedic elements to him.. Meanwhile, Ken is partnered with U.S. postal inspector Simon Kilmurry. After six months, the pair figure their money is safe to use, but because the money is dirty, they need to spend and clean it. According to KTAR News, a Phoenix radio station, the group focused on manufacturers coupons, which typically offer a free item or significant discount. She was sentenced to two years in prison, with credit for 287 days served, and seven years of supervised probation. The comments below have not been moderated, By The amount covered all of P&G's losses, for the fake coupons as well as extra manpower needed to deal with the issue. Bell plays Connie, whose life is smaller and sadder than she expected, following her early success as a gold-medal-winning Olympic athlete (but in a low-profile event, race-walking). Yes, a bear actually did consumer millions of dollars worth of cocaine. Ramirez pleaded guilty to illegal control of an enterprise, counterfeiting and fraud. In the movie, Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste play Connie and Jojo, a pair of best friends from Phoenix who love extreme couponing. Together, they set up a website called Savvy Super Saver, and eventually make millions of dollars in turn, costing multiple manufacturers millions of dollars. "[11] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 45 out of 100, based on 20 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". She also was ordered to pay restitution of up to $5 million. Queenpins. They don't call it robbery; they prefer "removing" or "separating.". As far as the real women involved, stars Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste admit that they never actually met or spoke to the actual minds behind the crime to learn what sparked it. He has been commended by the FBI for supporting them in numerous efforts to fight "complex coupon fraud schemes." But thats just Connie and Jojo. You can't make this stuff up - and the filmmakers didn't have to. "These aren't 50-cent-off coupons. She also was ordered to pay restitution of up to $5 million. And in terms of the crime itself, Queenpins stayed pretty loyal. The cast, with Kristen Bell and Paul Walter Hauser, is outstanding The Arizona women, Robin Ramirez, Marilyn Johnson and Amiko Fountain, pleaded guilty, Ramirez to. The cruelty-free sacred oil that will anoint Charles as King: Monarch breaks Coronation Day tradition with 'I have nothing to say to you': Father of Mallory Beach - who was killed in a boat crash while Alex Murdaugh's Alex Murdaugh is seen with his prison buzz cut as he starts two life sentences without parole for killing his Family 'mortified' after being thrown out of Mother Goose panto for bringing their baby with them, after venue Is this Britain's most despicable man? July 2012, police in Phoenix, Arizona arrested three women, Tom Sizemore, star of 'Saving Private Ryan,' 'Heat,' dies at 61 after brain aneurysm, Josh Hartnett is done talking about his break from Hollywood but ready to make fun of actors: 'We're the worst', Michael B. Jordan admits muscle gain for 'Creed' has been harder as he's gotten older, Billy Bush suggests Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes start their own show after ABC exit: 'They've got something that works', How to watch every Oscars 2023 Best Picture nominee. After complaining about cereal gone stale, the pair receives dozens of freebies, inspiring them to hatch an illegal coupon club scheme. The leader, Ramirez, pleaded guilty to fraud, counterfeiting, and illegal control of an enterprise. Capitalism always knows how to win. Indeed, the movie is inspired by a true story, but just how closely does the film follow the events and people its based on? It's unclear if their real-life counterparts,Ramirez, Fountain, and Johnson, had such charitable aspirations when they started their illicitenterprise. In 2012, investigators found millions of dollars worth in forged coupons. 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). This is based on the true story of three women: Robin Ramirez, Marilyn Johnson, and Amiko "Amy" Fountain. The FBI has crooks who commit moremanly crimes to track down. Real Stories is an ongoing column about the true stories behind movies and TV shows. There's a reason Bell is making quips about crime. But I I sort of didnt approach it from an occupational standpoint, Houser told TheWrap. 17:42 EST 23 Jul 2021. 'These aren't 50 cent off coupons. However, everything that's built onto this premise in the movie is almost entirely fictional. Thats the type of money they had, Sgt. Postal Inspector lead the investigation into their activities, encountering multiple humorous setbacks along the way. Included in the seizures were $25,000,000 worth of fake coupons, 22 assault weapons, and 21 vehicles including a 40 foot boat. They were ringleader Robin Ramirez (46 at the time of her arrest), Marilyn Johnson (62), and Amiko "Amy" Fountain (42). And why Bell and co-star Paul Walter Houser didnt talk to the real people behind the characters they play. In reality, thewomen seemed to have a better grasp of how to stay under the radar than the movie portrays, which enabled them to avoid police detection for so long. When we use coupons, we feel like we're getting away with something, like we're smart and special. Ramirez, the ringleader, was the only one sentenced to prison time two years while her counterparts got probation. She does not seem to take it too seriously, telling us that "this is a story about little old coupons.". Their unbelievable success eventually catches the attention of law enforcement. JoJo combines two people in real life:Amiko Fountain and Marilyn Johnson. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Like a coupon high, the fun of this movie does not last. Hauser previouslyworked with Howell-Baptiste in Cruella and also appeared in I, Tonya. Bud is a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) and an industry veteran. Because they arent exactly hardened criminals, they think that the money theyve made through their shell company has to be laundered, so they bought all these high priced items with the intent to just immediately resell them. HBOs Rain Dogs Finds Humor, Despair in the Working-Class Mum at its Center, Berlinale Highlights, Part Three: Hummingbirds, Concrete Valley, Afire, The Oneness of All Things: On Sofia Alaouis Animalia, New York International Childrens Film Festival Opens Window to the World. Had the system been better then, Lake said, we could have arrested probably another 50 people at least, who were buying hundreds of these coupons at a time and saying, I know theyre fake, but they work great.. The filmmakers, Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, chose not to interview the real Queenpins for the movie. director of photography Film Editing by Kayla Emter . Had their deals been a little worse, maybe the women would have never gotten caught. In May 2019, it was announced Kristen Bell and Leslie Jones had joined the cast of the film, with Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly directing from a screenplay they wrote. And in terms of the crime itself, Queenpins stayed pretty loyal. -Investigative Consultants. The site's name was inspired by the legit coupon magazine Savvy Shopper, which is in no way related. $100,000 x 40 is 4 million not 40 million. , updated They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to clean the money theyve made from selling coupons. 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. The opening scenes show Bell's character getting arrested before a flashback to explain what happened. That includes the details about the women and the two men chasing after them. The only real-life individual you could say was better off after the case than before, is the man who cracked the case. She really likes to watch out the window as we land and it helps calm her down. Now, with their story back in the spotlight, theres no escaping it, even nearly ten years later. Bell has extensive experience in Broadway, television, and film, leading successful TV series like Veronica Mars and The Good Place. The coupons are being sent through the mail and the FBI does not take it seriouslybecause it's coupons. Bud Miller, Executive Director of the Coupon Information Center, told money-saving columnist Jill Cataldo at the time, "These customers should expect contact in the future." Some of the coupon enthusiasts featured on the TLC show Extreme Couponing routinely purchased coupons from clipping services.In response to the Arizona coupon counterfeiting ring that inspired the Queenpins movie, the CIC's Bud Miller stated, "Coupon buyers expose themselves to the possibility of becoming involved with counterfeits, stolen property, or other criminal activities. She suggestsmaking fake identities and multiple accounts to store their earnings. Before playing Agent Park, he was inTalladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,Wreck-It Ralph, Bob's Burgers, and many others. He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. Queenpinsdebuted in theaters on September 10, 2021. Credit: Courtesy STX Films "They're also some of the best writers I've ever worked with. It was then that they learned of the fakes that were in circulation. Counterfeit Coupon Ringleader Pleads Guilty - Coupons in the News, Woman spends $600 on SavvyShopperSite.com fake coupons - Jill Cataldo. 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. Here . Law-enforcement authorities, manufacturers, and retailers advise against purchasing coupons. The CIC and some of its members were on location in a mobile command unit watching the bust." The bare-bones blueprint for the story is accurate; a small group of women make millions selling counterfeit coupons. [13], Last edited on 16 February 2023, at 04:25, "STXfilms' Kristen Bell Coupon Clipping Scam Comedy 'Queenpins' Sells US For $20M+ To Paramount+ & Showtime", "Leslie Jones-Kristen Bell Coupon Caper 'Queenpins' Lands With Rocket Science Cannes", "Vince Vaughn & Paul Walter Hauser Join Comedy 'Queenpins' With Leslie Jones & Kristen Bell", "Kristen Bell & Kirby Howell-Baptiste Coupon Scam Comedy 'Queenpins' Snapped Up By STX Toronto", "Bebe Rexha Joins Kristen Bell in Comedy 'Queenpins', "Dayo Okeniyi, Joel McHale, Nick Cassavetes, Michael Masini, Eduardo Franco, Paul Rust And 3 More Join 'Queenpins'; Jack McBrayer And Annie Mumolo To Cameo", "And so it begins #Queenpins", "STX Dates 'Queenpins', 'National Champions', 'Violence Of Action' & Untitled Guy Ritchie Movie For 2021 & Beyond", "Paul Walter Hauser Quietly Steals Delightful Crime Comedy 'Queenpins', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Queenpins&oldid=1139643182, This page was last edited on 16 February 2023, at 04:25. If you can get an unlimited number of those, think how this grows. Being clever with coupons makes her feel like she is making a financial contribution. The opulence and the money was the equivalent of drug cartel-type of stuff. (music by) Cinematography by Andrew Wehde . A look at what really happened with the characters of Andrew Dominiks 2007 Western epic. The Queenpins true story reveals that there were three women involved in the real-life scheme, not two like in the movie. We dont want people to think its funny. So they may be the first ones to tell you that coupon crime may make for a great Hollywood comedy but in real life, its no laughing matter. They were charged with counterfeiting, forgery, operating an illegal enterprise, money laundering, and other violations. David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHOat the time. No, not at all, Bell told TheWrap. And I just want to play the humanity of the guy while adding some comedic elements to him.. So will Robin Ramirez, Amiko Fountain and Marilyn Johnson be going to see Queenpins this weekend? Lets break it down. This is much more inspired So we dont really know anything about the real players and we kind of didnt want to. Together, they set up a website called Savvy Super Saver, and eventually make millions of dollars in turn, costing multiple manufacturers millions of dollars. Which brings us to Queenpins, a based-on-a-true-story comedy about the suburbanite besties behind the largest coupon counterfeit scam in U.S. history. Your email address will not be published. Bebe Rexha is the tech genius, Tempe Tina. Along with paying Procter & Gamble millions of dollars, Ramirez had to serve jail time. 'Its like Robin Hood,' Howell-Baptiste's character says in the trailer, summing up the coupon fraud plan. They may also expose themselves to additional risk by providing their names, home addresses, and financial information to organized crime rings." Related:Worth Cast & Character Guide: What The Real People Look Like. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. That would be too prestigious for Hauser's wannabe-cop Miller (Hauser borrows from his 2019 performance in Richard Jewell). 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. The acting was solid, though the relatively unknown Paul Walter Hauser stole the movie. 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' Plot Summary The pair are currently starring as crooked coupon buddies in the crime comedy "Queenpins," written and directed by husband-and-wife duo Aron. The Queenpins true story reveals that there were three women involved in the real-life scheme, not two like in the movie. Queenpins has arrived in theaters and on Paramount+, telling the story of the countrys largest counterfeit coupon scam. Related:Free Guy Cast, Characters & All Cameos Guide. "We knew, based on our research on past films, the more we dig into the real lives, it becomes much more serious, much more dramatic," Pullapilly told the, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. Vaughn is also currently appearing in the series Curb Your Enthusiasm. Here's the cast and character guide and the real-life counterparts. The comedy Queenpins features a talented cast coming together to tell a crazy true story. Carly Stern For Dailymail.com

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