Husband-and-wife filmmakers Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly did fly to Arizona in 2018 to interview the real detective who worked the case. 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. 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." In 2012, investigators found millions of dollars worth in forged coupons. The amount covered all of P&G's losses, for the fake coupons as well as extra manpower needed to deal with the issue. This is much more inspired So we dont really know anything about the real players and we kind of didnt want to. The duo bond on their mission, with Simon sympathizing with Ken's unwavering devotion. The acting was solid, though the relatively unknown Paul Walter Hauser stole the movie. "We're talking about anywhere from $400 to $600 million in loss," said Officer James Holmes of the Phoenix Police Department. In February of 2013,Ramirez pleaded guilty to counterfeiting, fraud, and illegal control of an enterprise, though a forgery charge was dropped. Thats the type of money they had, Sgt. Like a coupon high, the fun of this movie does not last. Together, they set up a website called Savvy Super Saver, and eventually make millions of dollars in turn, costing multiple manufacturers millions of dollars. The Coupon Information Corporation got wind of the scheme, and brought it to the attention of investigators, which is how it eventually landed on the desk of Phoenix Police Sergeant David Lake. The Coupon Queens cheated as many as 40 major manufacturers (Business Insider). Having had enough of his lack of support, she declares that she wants a divorce. In real life, the FBI did get involved, along with the non-profit Coupon Information Center. Dave Lake told CBS5 later. Autumn Cejer is a Movie/TV Features Writer for Screen Rant. But all were ordered to pay nearly $1.3 million in restitution to Procter & Gamble, just one of the many manufacturers whose coupons they counterfeited and sold. All three women were arrested and charged with forgery, fraud and counterfeiting. 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. , updated Yes. 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. Yes. [3] In July 2020, it was announced Paul Walter Hauser and Vince Vaughn had joined the cast of the film. 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. Preferred customers could get even better deals on better coupons. 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. The duo then interview a group of postal workers, who remember JoJo, especially because Earl is always watching her videos. They'd then sell them on eBay and a website, SavvyShopperSite, for a profit. 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. Credit: Courtesy STX Films "They're also some of the best writers I've ever worked with. In researching the Queenpins true story, we learned that Procter & Gamble did an audit of their third-party coupon processors. 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. The Queenpins true story reveals that there were three women involved in the real-life scheme, not two like in the movie. The opulence and the money was the equivalent of drug cartel-type of stuff. And I just want to play the humanity of the guy while adding some comedic elements to him.. After complaining about cereal gone stale, the pair receives dozens of freebies, inspiring them to hatch an illegal coupon club scheme. Queenpins tells a comedic story of two down-on-their-luck Phoenix women who discover their path to prosperity by concocting a $40 million counterfeit coupon scheme that all comes crashing down when they get caught. That would be too prestigious for Hauser's wannabe-cop Miller (Hauser borrows from his 2019 performance in Richard Jewell). 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. Then-forty-year-old Robin Ramirez led the group, which included Marilyn Johnson, then-fifty-four, and Amiko Amy Fountain, then-forty-two. 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. While the characters in Queenpins are fictional, the crime they came up with is the real deal. The crime comedy is based on a counterfeit coupon empire that shocked law enforcement. The other two women pleaded guilty to a single charge of counterfeiting. $100,000 x 40 is 4 million not 40 million. 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. He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. [9], Other box office grosses include Russia ($326,012), Ukraine ($221,109), 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. 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. No Offense, But These 2 Big Retailers Aren't The Cheapest Ad MoneyWise. Hauser previouslyworked with Howell-Baptiste in Cruella and also appeared in I, Tonya. Fountain and Johnson were both sentenced to three years probation after pleading guilty to a single count of counterfeiting. The fake coupon game isnt a joke. He has been commended by the FBI for supporting them in numerous efforts to fight "complex coupon fraud schemes." Here's the cast and character guide and the real-life counterparts. From writer-directors Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, the film stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Ba. The comedy Queenpins features a talented cast coming together to tell a crazy true story. "This is to American companies who produced American products and hire American citizens" (DSA). Next:Q-Force Cast & Character Guide: Where You Know The Actors From. Whatever Happened to the Real-Life Queenpins? 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. And it seems like the makers of the movie share this sentiment. Ken: Yeah no, even if I wanted to switch, I think it's more important that your daughter learn a valuable lesson. 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. 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. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. No, not at all, Bell told TheWrap. The Phoenix Police Department conducted undercover operations in which they purchased the counterfeit coupons. Instead we have LPOKen Miller (Paul Walter Hauser), a dedicated but comically awkward stickler for the rules, who is eventuallyjoined by an investigator from the USPS (Vince Vaughn, nailing just the right mix of exhausted irritation and integrity). 'Queenpins' Plot Summary However, everything that's built onto this premise in the movie is almost entirely fictional. Authorities eventually traced Ramirezs activity back to 2007. Tellingly, the changes to the details of the real law enforcement and private investigators make them less sympathetic. The ladies account is frozen due to suspicious activity, so Connie realizes they need to prove their business is legitimate. But Lake determinedly led his team in pursuing the case. In the movie, Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste play Connie and Jojo, a pair of best friends from Phoenix who love extreme couponing. On the case to bust them: a supermarkets loss-prevention officer and a US postal inspector, played by Paul Walter HauserandVince Vaughn, respectively. The scheme came crashing down after forty businesses, including major companies like Proctor & Gamble, Hershey, and PepsiCo, filed fraud complaints. Kristen Bell And Kirby Howell-Baptiste Run A Multi-Million Dollar Coupon Scam In The 'Queenpins' Trailer. But can you live with what you did?. 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. 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. But during Proctor & Gamble'sroutine audits ofthird-party coupon processors, the discovered fakes in circulation and hired private investigators to do some more digging. It stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Paul Walter Hauser, Bebe Rexha, and Vince Vaughn. Queenpinshits theaters on September 10th and will be available to stream via Paramount+ on September 30th. The coupons are being sent through the mail and the FBI does not take it seriouslybecause it's coupons. Along with paying Procter & Gamble millions of dollars, Ramirez had to serve jail time. In real life, the FBI did get involved, along with the non-profit Coupon Information Center. 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. 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. She lives with her mother and is trying to be an entrepreneur with a series of YouTube videos featuring tips on saving. 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. She does not seem to take it too seriously, telling us that "this is a story about little old coupons.". So will Robin Ramirez, Amiko Fountain and Marilyn Johnson be going to see Queenpins this weekend? Here . 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. 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. 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. She was most likely added to the script for comedic reasons in order to frame Connie and JoJo as being in over their heads and desperately needing outside help. As one law enforcement official put it, these were not the fifty-cents-off coupons one might find in their mailbox. .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. McHaleis perhaps best known for his role inCommunity, and will next be starring in the series Black Box. Rare $300 sign-up bonus card hits market Ad The Ascent. Her next acting roleisfor the movie Confess, Fletch. Afterwards, the duo begins their own website and small business "Savvy Super Saver", which helps them sell numerous coupons and generate profit. Meanwhile, Ken is partnered with U.S. postal inspector Simon Kilmurry. 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. 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. Queenpins has arrived in theaters and on Paramount+, telling the story of the countrys largest counterfeit coupon scam. Coupons wasnt even the biggest, most interesting case I did. Joel McHaleas Rick Kaminski- McHale plays Connie's husband who is worried about their growing amount of debt. So even though the events of nearly a decade ago seem like old news to the rest of us, its something the culprits continue to live with. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. Illegal couponing doesn't seem like ahigh-levelcrime, but the two women manage to grow rich off their scheme. David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHO at the time. None of the characters are based on the real individuals involved, Gaudet told Coupons in the News. Together, they set up a website called Savvy Super Saver, and eventually make millions of dollars in turn, costing multiple manufacturers millions of dollars. 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 real life, the FBI did get involved, along with the non-profit Coupon Information Center. 'Its like Robin Hood,' Howell-Baptiste's character says in the trailer, summing up the coupon fraud plan. The amount covered all of P&G's losses, for the fake coupons as well as extra manpower needed to deal with the issue. 'These aren't 50 cent off coupons. That's one reasonbeyond saving moneythe scam was so successful. Related:Worth Cast & Character Guide: What The Real People Look Like. According to Sgt. I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly's Queenpins concerns two Arizona suburbanites, Connie (Kristen Bell) and JoJo (Kirby . The Arizona coupon ring's leader, Robin Ramirez, rented an aircraft hangar to store her cars, 40-foot speedboat, luxury RV, and various off-road toys. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to clean the money theyve made from selling coupons. After tracing the origins of the ring to Phoenix, the FBI then teamed up with local law enforcement to bust the group. If you can get an unlimited number of those, think how this grows. A look at the counterculture movement that became the religious right. I'd recommend this film for unwinding on a Friday night after a long week. She has also worked on soundtracks for movies like Abominable and, most recently, He's All That. Tempe Tina does not have a real-life counterpart. Carly Stern For Dailymail.com
This happened after various companies that had been impacted by the bogus coupons hired private investigators to uncover the origins of the coupons. For diapers and toothpaste. And where does that curmudgeonly frame come from? 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. Lets break it down. Just to make him more sympathetic, in addition to the $2 an hour, he has a pregnant wife who also works at the factory. See production, box office & company info. Here's the cast and character guide for Queenpins, along with comparisons to some of the characters' counterparts in real life. Ramirez pleaded guilty to illegal control of an enterprise, counterfeiting and fraud. Not only does Arizona state law forbid convicted criminals from profiting by selling their story, but writer-directors Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly have emphasized that their story is an entirely fictional version of the real thing. What is the Japanese language plot outline for Queenpins (2021)? 'Queenpins' Review: Suburban Scammers Two cash-strapped neighbors devise a multimillion-dollar coupon swindle in this mildly entertaining comedy. 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. He described digging through trash cans, conducting surveillance, and ultimately kicking in the doors of the three womens homes, where they found a treasure trove of evidence coupons, cash, guns, along with what they later discovered was an airplane hangar filled with sports cars, a fully decked-out RV and a 40-foot speedboat. 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. And they get a monthly reminder every time they make their latest restitution payment. It was then that they learned of the fakes that were in circulation. 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. In July 2012, police in Phoenix, Arizona arrested three women in a coupon scam that cost manufacturers roughly $40 million. That includes the details about the women and the two men chasing after them. The real Queenpins' mugshots are displayed below. If you watch the movie 'Queenpins,' you will see, what I believe, is the first film in Hollywood to feature AEW in the film." Furthermore, Paul Walter Hauser reveals that he has actually had minimal wrestling training with several names from The Nightmare Factory including Anthony Ogogo, Preston Vance, and even WWE Hall of Famer Diamond Dallas . (music by) Cinematography by Andrew Wehde . These companies included Hershey, Procter & Gamble, and the Coupon Information Corporation. Capitalism always knows how to win. 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. 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. "You've got yourself an eighteen-karat run of bad luck, kid.". -Investigative Consultants. She was the only one of the three to receive jail time. While it's hard to know how many customers knew they might be engaging in criminal activity, there were a few red flags that should have at least made them suspicious. When we use coupons, we feel like we're getting away with something, like we're smart and special. That's not how the world works y'know. Judge Daniel Martin sentenced her to 24 months, as well as seven years probation. Queenpins, directed and written by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, adapts a real-life story and presents it most humorously and entertainingly. 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. And I think it comes from loneliness and feeling isolated and kind of under-utilized or under-appreciated. This installment focuses on the true story behind the crime comedy Queenpins. 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. They were ringleader Robin Ramirez (46 at the time of her arrest), Marilyn Johnson (62), and Amiko "Amy" Fountain (42). Vaughn is also currently appearing in the series Curb Your Enthusiasm. Their unbelievable success eventually catches the attention of law enforcement. On the other side we have faceless and barely acknowledged corporations (always a convenient bad guy) and an LPO (loss prevention officer, a fancy title for private security). We are no longer accepting comments on this article. 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. Mumolo was an Academy Award-nominated screenwriter for the romantic comedy Bridesmaids. The only real-life individual you could say was better off after the case than before, is the man who cracked the case. They don't call it robbery; they prefer "removing" or "separating.". A bright spot is Bebe Rexha as a dark web expert who helps Connie and Jojo launder their money. We dont want people to think its funny. The group would have fake coupons made oversees, including reproductions of legitimate coupons and made-up ones with steep savings. Some movies are based on true stories, some movies are inspired by true stories. Kristen Bell as Connie Kaminski Kristen Bell stars as Connie Kaminski, a suburban housewife who just wants to find a solution for the debt burying her and her husband. YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. Kristen Anne Bell (born 1980) is an American actress and singer. 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. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to.
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. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. Procter & Gamble $1,288,682 in reimbursement. This is based on the true story of three women: Robin Ramirez, Marilyn Johnson, and Amiko "Amy" Fountain. 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. No. He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention.