Her term of probation was recently extended for another five years, after she fell more than $4,000 behind in her restitution payments. Watching "Queenpins" is like eating grocery store birthday cake. Bell plays former Olympian and bored. Johnson helped package and ship the coupons to customers, and Fountain placed hologram stickers on some of them to make them look more legitimate. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. Couponing goes criminal in the new trailer for Queenpins. 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 17:42 EST 23 Jul 2021. 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. Queenpins has arrived in theaters and on Paramount+, telling the story of the countrys largest counterfeit coupon scam. Had their deals been a little worse, maybe the women would have never gotten caught. Yes. In the movie, Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste play Connie and Jojo, a pair of best friends from Phoenix who love extreme couponing. She has previously appeared with Bell on Bad Moms, buther claim to fame has been in screenwriting. Then-forty-year-old Robin Ramirez led the group, which included Marilyn Johnson, then-fifty-four, and Amiko Amy Fountain, then-forty-two. The CIC and some of its members were on location in a mobile command unit watching the bust." The comedy Queenpins features a talented cast coming together to tell a crazy true story. Follow and/or unfollow him on Twitter. In July 2012, police in Phoenix, Arizona arrested three women in a coupon scam that cost manufacturers roughly $40 million. And in terms of the crime itself, Queenpins stayed pretty loyal. She also was ordered to pay restitution of up to $5 million. Bud played an instrumental role in taking down the three women who inspired the Queenpins movie.Unlike Bud Miller, Hauser's character doesn't work for the Coupon Information Corporation (a not-for-profit association of consumer product manufacturers dedicated to fighting coupon misredemption and fraud). The opulence and the money was the equivalent of drug cartel-type of stuff. Slapstick . David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHO at the time. After multiple, very expensive fertility treatment failures, she and her IRS auditor husband (Joel McHale, given nothing to do) are estranged and deeply in debt. 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. Ken is the kind of guy who desperately wants to present himself as a stoic, but when alone, screams in rage. In real life, the Phoenix Police Department led the investigation with the assistance of the FBI. 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. The two women in the movie, Connie Kaminski (Kristen Bell) and JoJo Johnson (Kirby Howell-Baptiste), are not directly based on any of the real-life women.Kristen Bell's character's background of being a former Olympic race walker who turns to couponing after having no luck getting pregnant (and spending tens of thousands on in vitro treatments) is fictional, as is Kirby Howell-Baptiste's character's unsuccessful efforts to make it as a vlogger. Authorities eventually traced Ramirezs activity back to 2007. She was sentenced to two years in prison, followed by seven years probation. Vaughn is also currently appearing in the series Curb Your Enthusiasm. 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. And I just want to play the humanity of the guy while adding some comedic elements to him.. Lets break it down. [8], In June 2021, Showtime and Paramount+ acquired U.S. pay TV and streaming rights to the film for about $20 million. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to clean the money theyve made from selling coupons. After gathering sufficient evidence, Simon and Ken finally get agents to arrest the pair. In researching the Queenpins true story, we learned that Procter & Gamble did an audit of their third-party coupon processors. A pair of housewives create a $40 million coupon scam.A pair of housewives create a $40 million coupon scam.A pair of housewives create a $40 million coupon scam. I try to work with police chiefs, at the state and local level, to come up with ways of explaining how important protecting our business infrastructure is, he said. Queenpins is a 2021 American comedy film written and directed by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly. But thats just Connie and Jojo. Thats the type of money they had, Sgt. At $300 a month, even if she stays current in her payments, it will take more than 120 years to pay off her share of the restitution order. The comedy Queenpins is inspired by the largest coupon scam in U.S. history. 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 in terms of the crime itself, Queenpins stayed pretty loyal. 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. We dont want people to think they can do this, he said. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. Ame hissed, "Getting partnered with someone like me. Together, they set up a website called Savvy Super Saver, and eventually make millions of dollars in turn, costing multiple manufacturers millions of dollars. She also was ordered to pay restitution of up to $5 million. The real Queenpins' mugshots are displayed below. The idea started just as a way for their two families to make ends meet as they struggled to pay the bills. You cant make this stuff up and the filmmakers didnt have to. Shedisplays considerable comedy chopsin films like Bad Momsand is also well-known for her role as Anna inDisney's Frozen franchise. Un par de amas de casa crean una estafa de cupones de 40 millones de dlares. Bell has extensive experience in Broadway, television, and film, leading successful TV series like Veronica Mars and The Good Place. Ramirez, the ringleader, was the only one sentenced to prison time two years while her counterparts got probation. 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. I'd recommend this film for unwinding on a Friday night after a long week. None of the characters are based on the real individuals involved, Gaudet told Coupons in the News. The group would have fake coupons made oversees, including reproductions of legitimate coupons and made-up ones with steep savings. 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. I just decided I really wanted to play the curmudgeon nature of the character. Whatever Happened to the Real-Life Queenpins? 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. 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. Despite the absurdity of the synopsis, believe it or not,Queenpins is based on a true story. The only real-life individual you could say was better off after the case than before, is the man who cracked the case. 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. 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. Related:Free Guy Cast, Characters & All Cameos Guide. 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.. However, Ken Miller, a hapless loss prevention officer for the A&G Family Marts stores in the Southwestern United States, learns about the coupons and the losses several companies are taking, and pressures his superiors before ultimately deciding to handle the case himself. I have never purchased coupons from a clipping service or an auction site." Here's the cast and character guide and the real-life counterparts. 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. Lets break it down. Because at Coupons In The News, we believe an educated consumer is the best couponer! "[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. Lets break it down. Credit: Courtesy STX Films. JoJo combines two people in real life:Amiko Fountain and Marilyn Johnson. 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'Queenpins' Plot Summary Police in Phoenix, Arizona, announced the arrest of three women after they confiscated more than $25 million worth of fake coupons in a raid. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. The three real-life Coupon Queens carried out their counterfeit operation in Phoenix, Arizona where they lived. The three women, Robin Ramirez, Amiko Fountain, and Marilyn Johnson, mostly sold free-product coupons. It stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Paul Walter Hauser, Bebe Rexha, and Vince Vaughn. Yes. She was sentenced to two years in prison, with credit for 287 days served, and seven years of supervised probation. While the characters in Queenpins are fictional, the crime they came up with is the real deal. He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. Singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha makes her feature film debut in the Queenpins movie. The vehicles included a custom Corvette that was worth over $150,000. Kristen Anne Bell (born 1980) is an American actress and singer. From left, Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste. 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. You can't make this stuff up - and the filmmakers didn't have to. The Arizona coupon ring's leader, Robin Ramirez, and her accomplices, Marilyn Johnson and Amiko Fountain, were arrested in July of 2012. Queenpins has arrived in theaters and on Paramount+, telling the story of the countrys largest counterfeit coupon scam. This film wasn't deep, and at times it stretched credibility, but it was fun and engaging. Queenpins has arrived in theaters and on Paramount+, telling the story of the countrys largest counterfeit coupon scam. [9], Other box office grosses include Russia ($326,012), Ukraine ($221,109), 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. (67) 6.3 1 h 50 min 2021 X-Ray R. A suburban homemaker and her best friend turn a hobby into a multi-million-dollar counterfeit coupon caper. 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. And in terms of the crime itself, Queenpins stayed pretty loyal. Annie MumoloasCrystal - Mumolo appears in the minor role of Crystal. The crime comedy is based on a counterfeit coupon empire that shocked law enforcement. Shecan next be seen in the indie film Silent Night and later inThe Sandman TV series. But can you live with what you did?. Con Kristen Bell, Lidia Porto, Joel McHale, Kirby. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. A real disc jockey inspired Robin Williams classic character. Now that theyve done their time and are working to pay off their debt, the women appear to be trying to put the incident behind them. This includes forums and any public viewing areas or websites.". 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. Bud Miller, who was the Executive Director of the Coupon Information Corporation (CIC), told money-saving columnist Jill Cataldo, "Initial contact was made by a SWAT team removing the front door of a residence by force. The acting was solid, though the relatively unknown Paul Walter Hauser stole the movie. Summary: Amelia Watson, a senior but loose cannon, problem child detective of City PD, has to prevent a war. 110 minutes Cast Kristen Bell Kirby Howell-Baptiste as JoJo Paul Walter Hauser Vince Vaughn Joel McHale Bebe Rexha as Tempe Tina Dayo Okeniyi Nick Cassavetes Michael Masini Paul Rust Eduardo Franco Marc Evan Jackson Lidia Porto Greta Oglesby Jack McBrayer Annie Mumolo Director Aron Gaudet 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. The amount covered all of P&G's losses, for the fake coupons as well as extra manpower needed to deal with the issue. According to Time magazine, they went undercover and purchased coupons as part of their effort to locate the source. She was sentenced to two years in prison, with credit for 287 days served, and seven years of supervised probation. The filmmakers, Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, chose not to interview the real Queenpins for the movie. 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. She is also known for her appearances in Killing Eve and Cruella. He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. The women sold their counterfeit coupons on various online sites, including eBay and their own website, SavvyShopperSite.com. If you can get an unlimited number of those, think how this grows. 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. Afterwards, the duo begins their own website and small business "Savvy Super Saver", which helps them sell numerous coupons and generate profit. By 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). The comedy Queenpins is inspired by the largest coupon scam in U.S. history. Having had enough of his lack of support, she declares that she wants a divorce. Rexha's character helps Connie and JoJo evade the authorities, mainly by strengthening their internet security. Her ancestry is Polish (mother) and German, English, Irish, and Scottish (father). And it seems like the makers of the movie share this sentiment. Queenpins is playing in theaters with plans to stream on Paramount+ in the near future. The opening scenes show Bell's character getting arrested before a flashback to explain what happened. 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. 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. Coupon enthusiast Jill Cataldo warns, "Even though many places sell coupons online, you should never buy them. 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. A judge sentenced Ramirez to twenty-four months in prison and seven years probation. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. I was very excited when I saw on the front page of the script that was based on a true story. The duo then interview a group of postal workers, who remember JoJo, especially because Earl is always watching her videos. The leader, Ramirez, pleaded guilty to fraud, counterfeiting, and illegal control of an enterprise. It's very easy to say their words," says Kristen. But Lake determinedly led his team in pursuing the case. 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. Ramirez pleaded guilty to illegal control of an enterprise, counterfeiting and fraud. In July 2012, police in Phoenix, Arizona arrested three women in a coupon scam that cost manufacturers roughly $40 million. They enjoy their newfound wealth, only to have their criminal enterprise crumble when they are investigated, raided, and arrested.