Ramirez, too, declined to respond to requests for comment. Thats the type of money they had, Sgt. [6] In December 2020, Dayo Okeniyi, Joel McHale, Nick Cassavetes, Michael Masini, Paul Rust, Eduardo Franco, Marc Evan Jackson, Lidia Porto, Greta Oglesby, Jack McBrayer and Annie Mumolo joined the cast of the film. The coupons were sold on a site called Savvy Shopper Site, to which interested parties had to be referred or invited directly to use. The ring used a series of twelve different bank accounts to house their money. Ben Stiller serves as an executive producer under his Red Hour Productions banner. 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. David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHOat the time. Her next acting roleisfor the movie Confess, Fletch. She really likes to watch out the window as we land and it helps calm her down. 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. 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. Before playing Agent Park, he was inTalladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,Wreck-It Ralph, Bob's Burgers, and many others. I just decided I really wanted to play the curmudgeon nature of the character. It's not a seamless fit. But can you live with what you did?. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. -TIME, Copyright 2023 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media. He'd be scary if the film didn't make him the literal butt of the joke. The group would have fake coupons made oversees, including reproductions of legitimate coupons and made-up ones with steep savings. Coupons wasnt even the biggest, most interesting case I did. A bright spot is Bebe Rexha as a dark web expert who helps Connie and Jojo launder their money. The coupons are being sent through the mail and the FBI does not take it seriouslybecause it's coupons. Queenpins has arrived in theaters and on Paramount+, telling the story of the countrys largest counterfeit coupon scam. And I think it comes from loneliness and feeling isolated and kind of under-utilized or under-appreciated. 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. 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. 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 was born and raised in Huntington Woods, Michigan, and is the daughter of Lorelei (Frygier), a nurse, and Tom Bell, a television news director. 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. Upon realizing that they could get a coupon for a free item sent to them just by complaining to the manufacturer, they come up with a plan to smuggle and steal cases of those coupons, to then sell to people. Illegal couponing doesn't seem like ahigh-levelcrime, but the two women manage to grow rich off their scheme. His character represents the law enforcementin charge of tracking down the women responsible. .aspect-ratio-box { height: 0; overflow: hidden; padding-top: calc(720 / 1280 * 100%); background: #f9f9f9; position: relative; margin-bottom:30px; } .aspect-ratio-box-inside { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }, Read original story Queenpins': Heres the Real Story Behind Kristen Bells Crime Comedy At TheWrap, July 2012, police in Phoenix, Arizona arrested three women, Queenpins': Heres the Real Story Behind Kristen Bells Crime Comedy, 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. There's a reason Bell is making quips about crime. Produced by Music by Siddhartha Khosla . Connie initially comes up with the couponing scheme, eventuallyteaming up with her friend to help her pull off the biggest coupon scam in U.S. history. Authorities eventually traced Ramirezs activity back to 2007. 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. 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. Ramirez pleaded guilty to illegal control of an enterprise, counterfeiting and fraud. 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. Coupon enthusiast Jill Cataldo warns, "Even though many places sell coupons online, you should never buy them. They joined forces with several other affected companies and hired private investigators to track the source of the fraudulent coupons. Thats money in the bank.'. As one law enforcement official put it, these were not the fifty-cents-off coupons one might find in their mailbox. 'These aren't 50 cent off coupons. 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. Fountain and Johnson were both sentenced to three years probation after pleading guilty to a single count of counterfeiting. Queenpins is Rexha's first major acting role. 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.. She was sentenced to two years in prison, with credit for 287 days served, and seven years of supervised probation. 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. Howell-Baptiste previously worked with Bell on Veronica Mars and The Good Place. And in terms of the crime itself, Queenpins stayed pretty loyal. This includes forums and any public viewing areas or websites.". A pair of housewives create a $40 million coupon scam. 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. Kiara frowned, watching the usually stoic Ame toss and turn in the driver's seat. The acting was solid, though the relatively unknown Paul Walter Hauser stole the movie. Couponing goes criminal in the new trailer for Queenpins. She also was ordered to pay restitution of up to $5 million. In July 2012, police in Phoenix, Arizona arrested three women in a coupon scam that cost manufacturers roughly $40 million. They also seized more than $2 million in other assets, including 22 guns, cash, 21 vehicles, and a speed boat. The trailer for Queenpinsincludes audio of Bell and Howell-Baptistes characters calling out systemic inequality and likening themselves to Robin Hood. Its that simple. Hauser previouslyworked with Howell-Baptiste in Cruella and also appeared in I, Tonya. But thats just Connie and Jojo. That's the psychological illogic of coupons, referred to in the movie as the "coupon high." Autumn Cejer is a Movie/TV Features Writer for Screen Rant. From writer-directors Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, the film stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Ba. But I I sort of didnt approach it from an occupational standpoint, Houser told TheWrap. Two women create a $40 million coupon scam. I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. 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. In 2012, investigators found millions of dollars worth in forged coupons. 'They're buying bunches, and they're redeeming them in bunches.'. Like a coupon high, the fun of this movie does not last. The details were first revealed after a Tuesday morning raid in July 2012 by the Phoenix Arizona Police Department. Thats the type of money they had, Sgt. 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 also was ordered to pay restitution of up to $5 million. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. Bell plays former Olympian and bored. 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. On the case to bust them: a supermarket's. She was sentenced to two years in prison, with credit for 287 days served, and seven years of supervised probation. We're all looking for a loophole to find our joy and happiness in life." They were ringleader Robin Ramirez (46 at the time of her arrest), Marilyn Johnson (62), and Amiko "Amy" Fountain (42). Dave Lake told CBS5 later. Procter & Gamble $1,288,682 in reimbursement. Real Stories is an ongoing column about the true stories behind movies and TV shows. 'We used undercover and covert operations to make purchases and to identify the three suspects,' Holmes said. They don't call it robbery; they prefer "removing" or "separating.". "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. Queenpins. 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. Once there, buyers would have access to an array of high-dollar coupons. The Queenpins true story reveals that there were three women involved in the real-life scheme, not two like in the movie. 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. But nobody really thought it was a big deal, because, you know, its coupons.. Bell has extensive experience in Broadway, television, and film, leading successful TV series like Veronica Mars and The Good Place. Unilever also claimed losses, pointing to five particular coupons that had been founded in Ramirezs home, though a judge ruled that they couldn't prove that the three women were responsible for selling them. When we're with Connie and JoJo, the tone of "Queenpins" is upbeat and sit-com-y, with Dolly Parton on the soundtrack telling us everything is going to be all right. "I am not spending money!" Credit: Courtesy STX Films. While it might seem outrageous and is played for laughs in the movie, in July 2012, a SWAT team really did raid the Phoenix residences of the three women who played a part in the counterfeit coupon operation. In addition, the scenes involving the gun sale include short appearances by co-director Aron Gaudet's brother Nick as a barista, as well as actor and director Nick Cassavetes as the leader of the group buying the guns. [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. While the movie is focused on two women, there were three at the heart of the real coupon ring. Users had to be 'invited' to join the site, and fans raved about the impossibly good deals, like a coupon for a free pizza worth $7 that would cost shoppers just $1. No. The ringleader, Robin Ramirez, started selling bogus coupons as far back as 2007, and was eventually joined by accomplices Marilyn Johnson and Amiko Fountain. If you can get an unlimited number of those, think how this grows. Kristen Bell And Kirby Howell-Baptiste Run A Multi-Million Dollar Coupon Scam In The 'Queenpins' Trailer. Had their deals been a little worse, maybe the women would have never gotten caught. She does not seem to take it too seriously, telling us that "this is a story about little old coupons.". In real life, the FBI did get involved, along with the non-profit Coupon Information Center. The idea started just as a way for their two families to make ends meet as they struggled to pay the bills. [9], Other box office grosses include Russia ($326,012), Ukraine ($221,109), The bare-bones blueprint for the story is accurate; a small group of women make millions selling counterfeit coupons. Though most of their fraudulent earnings have been confiscated, the pair have hundreds of thousands of dollars from their illegal activities stashed away, and JoJo starts a relationship with Earl and relocates to Montenegro, a non-extradition country, where the pair can immediately restart the scam upon Connie's release. In addition to the $40 million in counterfeit coupons that they confiscated, police seized $2 million in assets from the three women, including four homes, 22 guns, a 40-foot speed boat, and 21 vehicles. It might have been more interesting to have lead police officer on the case a woman, as it was in the actual arrest.
Double Contact In Volleyball Hand Signal,
Amy Johnson Below Deck Husband,
Vintage Tennessee Vols Apparel,
Correct Way To Hang Union Jack Vertically,
The Maximum Length Of A Double Section Ladder Is,
Articles Q
