queenpins real characters

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. "We're talking about anywhere from $400 to $600 million in loss," said Officer James Holmes of the Phoenix Police Department. Just to make him more sympathetic, in addition to the $2 an hour, he has a pregnant wife who also works at the factory. [1] It was released on September 10, 2021. Next:Q-Force Cast & Character Guide: Where You Know The Actors From. In February of 2013,Ramirez pleaded guilty to counterfeiting, fraud, and illegal control of an enterprise, though a forgery charge was dropped. But I I sort of didnt approach it from an occupational standpoint, Houser told TheWrap. It's not a seamless fit. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Queenpins vs. the True Story of the Real Counterfeit Coupon Ring According to Sgt. Along with paying Procter & Gamble millions of dollars, Ramirez had to serve jail time. The scheme came crashing down after forty businesses, including major companies like Proctor & Gamble, Hershey, and PepsiCo, filed fraud complaints. The ringleader, Robin Ramirez, started selling bogus coupons as far back as 2007, and was eventually joined by accomplices Marilyn Johnson and Amiko Fountain. Kristen Bell And Kirby Howell-Baptiste Run A Multi-Million Dollar Coupon Scam In The 'Queenpins' Trailer. Her next acting roleisfor the movie Confess, Fletch. And where does that curmudgeonly frame come from? Kristen Bell - IMDb She also was ordered to pay restitution of up to $5 million. 'Queenpins': Here's the Real Story Behind Kristen Bell - TheWrap Queenpins - Contemporary Robin Hoods grounded in the real world I'd recommend this film for unwinding on a Friday night after a long week. A quarter of the U.S. will fall inside an extreme heat belt. The crime comedy is based on a counterfeit coupon empire that shocked law enforcement. A judge sentenced Ramirez to twenty-four months in prison and seven years probation. .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. 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. 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. The film is based on the true story of three Arizona women arrested in 2012 for a $40 million fraud involving coupons. I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. 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. This film wasn't deep, and at times it stretched credibility, but it was fun and engaging. Fountain and Johnson were both sentenced to three years probation after pleading guilty to a single count of counterfeiting. 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. The character mainly functions to forward the plot and as the other half of the "buddy-cop" duo with Ken Miller (Paul Walter Hauser). Click here to get in touch, or for information about advertising on the site. Queenpins Cast & Character Guide: Where You Know The Actors From 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. Queenpins Writers Balance Comedic Tone with Real-Life Drama in Coupon The trail led to the Arizona coupon ring located in Phoenix. The opening scenes show Bell's character getting arrested before a flashback to explain what happened. You Are Reading :Queenpins Cast And Character Guide Where You Know The Actors From. She does not seem to take it too seriously, telling us that "this is a story about little old 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. According to KTAR News, a Phoenix radio station, the group focused on manufacturers coupons, which typically offer a free item or significant discount. 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. All three women were arrested and charged with forgery, fraud and counterfeiting. 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. It is also revealed that Connie, after numerous unsuccessful attempts to conceive following her miscarriage, is finally pregnant through in vitro fertilization. McHaleis perhaps best known for his role inCommunity, and will next be starring in the series Black Box. Ramirez pleaded guilty to counterfeiting, fraud, and illegal control of an enterprise. Un par de amas de casa crean una estafa de cupones de 40 millones de dlares. Queenpins - Chapter 1 - Elias_Pedro - Archive of Our Own The postal inspector tells Connie it's 1 year for every $100,000 earned fraudulently and that she's looking at 40 years. Summary: Amelia Watson, a senior but loose cannon, problem child detective of City PD, has to prevent a war. Vince Vaughnas Simon Kilmurry -Vince Vaughn plays Simon Kilmurry, a U.S. postal inspector who works with Ken to investigate the coupon scam. Instead, Hauser's character is a loss-prevention officer for a grocery store chain. The film's largely painful humor is informed by the mistaken belief that the main characters' criminal enterprise is inherently quirky. David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHO at the time. 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. No, not at all, Bell told TheWrap. Some movies are based on true stories, some movies are inspired by true stories. The site's name was inspired by the legit coupon magazine Savvy Shopper, which is in no way related. Those are intriguing issues but themovie is less interested in exploring them than it is giving the queenpins makeovers and silly plot detours involving a militia and extended scatological humor. Her term of probation was recently extended for another five years, after she fell more than $4,000 behind in her restitution payments. 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. 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. The three women, Robin Ramirez, Amiko Fountain, and Marilyn Johnson, mostly sold free-product coupons. [12] Hauser's performance as fraud specialist Ken Miller received praise from critics who praised his onscreen chemistry with Vaughn while noting that the film established him as a comedic actor after his breakthrough role in 2019's Richard Jewell. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. In a later scene, another postal service worker says they stole 40 million in counterfeit coupons. Thats money in the bank.'. 'Queenpins' Review: Suburban Scammers Two cash-strapped neighbors devise a multimillion-dollar coupon swindle in this mildly entertaining comedy. While the characters in the 2021 movieQueenpins call out systemic inequality and the downfalls of capitalism, it's unlikely that their real-life counterparts shared these same sentiments. Queenpinsdebuted in theaters on September 10, 2021. David Lake said. And I think it comes from loneliness and feeling isolated and kind of under-utilized or under-appreciated. She has previously appeared with Bell on Bad Moms, buther claim to fame has been in screenwriting. Capitalism always knows how to win. The Arizona coupon ring's leader, Robin Ramirez, and her accomplices, Marilyn Johnson and Amiko Fountain, were arrested in July of 2012. Heres how the real Queenpins counterfeit coupon ring worked: shoppers would purchase the coupons on websites like eBay and/or be invited or referred to the rings personal website, savvyshoppersite.com. They also seized more than $2 million in other assets, including 22 guns, cash, 21 vehicles, and a speed boat. I went to the detectives and I said, we have what appears to be a large multimillion-dollar, maybe hundreds of millions of dollars, theft affecting over 240 victims, the now-retired Lake told Coupons in the News. Queenpins. JoJo combines two people in real life:Amiko Fountain and Marilyn Johnson. 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 But nobody really thought it was a big deal, because, you know, its coupons.. Analysts Predict More Deals in the Grocery Store This Year, Savings Apps Are All the Rage This One Most of All, Grocery Shoppers Shrug Off A Tumultuous Year, Couponer Is Dealt A Final Setback In Decade-Old Dispute. 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.. That includes the details about the women and the two men chasing after them. Kristen Anne Bell (born 1980) is an American actress and singer. "I am not spending money!" -Investigative Consultants. 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. He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. 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? 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. And thats why they make excuses, he said. 'Queenpins' Summary & Ending, Explained - Digital Mafia Talkies The coupons were sold on a site called Savvy Shopper Site, to which interested parties had to be referred or invited directly to use. Okeniyi appeared in The Hunger Games and Run Sweetheart Run, and his next role is in Greek Freak. 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. Together, they set up a website called Savvy Super Saver, and eventually make millions of dollars in turn, costing multiple manufacturers millions of dollars. These are free item coupons,' Police Sgt. This is based on the true story of three women: Robin Ramirez, Marilyn Johnson, and Amiko "Amy" Fountain. director of photography Film Editing by Kayla Emter . They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to clean the money theyve made from selling coupons. Lets break it down. The women guaranteed a one-hundred-percent return rate if a store rejected one of their coupons. 'We used undercover and covert operations to make purchases and to identify the three suspects,' Holmes said. Follow and/or unfollow him on Twitter. 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. Authorities later estimated that the coupon ring cost corporations hundreds of millions of dollars in profit. The details were first revealed after a Tuesday morning raid in July 2012 by the Phoenix Arizona Police Department. On the case to bust them: a supermarket's. The trios many customers never faced charges but they might have. When Connie discovers that a complaint letter about stale cereal earned her a coupon for a free box, it's a short road to finding a $2 an hour employee at the Mexico coupon printing plant (moved from the US to save money) who is willing to send them extras. Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste, playing the lead roles, are as spectacular as ever. This includes forums and any public viewing areas or websites.". 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 comedy Queenpins is inspired by the largest coupon scam in U.S. history. Annie MumoloasCrystal - Mumolo appears in the minor role of Crystal. But thats just Connie and Jojo. (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 . Queenpins | Official Trailer [HD] | In Theaters September 10 - YouTube 'Queenpins': Here's the Real Story Behind Kristen Bell's Crime Comedy Once there, buyers would have access to an array of high-dollar coupons. A trailer released this month shows how a suburban housewife (Bell) and her coupon vlogger friend (Howell-Baptiste) come up with a scheme to sell fake coupons online, earning them millions of dollars while contributing to costly losses for brands like Proctor & Gamble andUnilever. From writer-directors Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, the film stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Ba. Slapstick . A look at the counterculture movement that became the religious right. A reality television series about this trend had an episode on the Arizona coupon case. They joined forces with several other affected companies and hired private investigators to track the source of the fraudulent coupons. 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 vehicles included a custom Corvette that was worth over $150,000. "[11] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 45 out of 100, based on 20 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Indeed, the movie is inspired by a true story, but just how closely does the film follow the events and people its based on? But can you live with what you did?. [7], Principal photography began in October 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. 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.. 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. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. 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. In July 2012, police in Phoenix, Arizona arrested three women in a coupon scam that cost manufacturers roughly $40 million. When we use coupons, we feel like we're getting away with something, like we're smart and special. Alienated by her uninspiring existence being unemployed and having suffered a miscarriage in an attempt to conceive a child, Connie commiserates with her best friend Joanna "JoJo" Johnson, who has been unable to secure proper employment since having her identity stolen and thus lives with her mother Josephine, attempting to generate revenue by making YouTube videos while being amorously pursued by the local mailman, Earl. (music by) Cinematography by Andrew Wehde . 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. 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. Autumn Cejer is a Movie/TV Features Writer for Screen Rant. However, everything that's built onto this premise in the movie is almost entirely fictional. The other queenpin is Connie's neighbor and close friend JoJo (Howell-Baptiste), who was a victim of identity theft that ruined her credit and her ability to apply for jobs. 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. Authorities eventually traced Ramirezs activity back to 2007. 'These aren't 50 cent off coupons. As one law enforcement official put it, these were not the fifty-cents-off coupons one might find in their mailbox. [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. Queenpins' true story is based on the couponing scam designed by three Arizona women: Robin Ramirez, Marilyn Johnson, and Amiko "Amy" Fountain. 'Queenpins' Plot Summary US Postal Inspector Simon Kilmurry (Vince Vaughn) appears to be entirely fictional. 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. Whatever Happened to the Real-Life "Queenpins"? Paul Walter Hauser Got AEW References Into 'Queenpins' Film - Fightful Watching "Queenpins" is like eating grocery store birthday cake. 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. Johnson helped package and ship the coupons to customers, and Fountain placed hologram stickers on some of them to make them look more legitimate. Savvy Shopper Site had a few other suspicious requirements. 'Queenpins': Here's the Real Story Behind Kristen Bell's Crime Comedy That's one reasonbeyond saving moneythe scam was so successful. 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. Related:Worth Cast & Character Guide: What The Real People Look Like. Counterfeit Coupon Ringleader Pleads Guilty - Coupons in the News, Woman spends $600 on SavvyShopperSite.com fake coupons - Jill Cataldo. Produced by Music by Siddhartha Khosla . Related:Free Guy Cast, Characters & All Cameos Guide. Had their deals been a little worse, maybe the women would have never gotten caught. But court records indicate that she has not quite been able to put this case behind her. But I I sort of didnt approach it from an occupational standpoint, Houser told TheWrap. You can't make this stuff up - and the filmmakers didn't have to. In real life, the FBI did get involved, along with the non-profit Coupon Information Center. [5] In October 2020, Bebe Rexha joined the cast of the film. 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. The duo bond on their mission, with Simon sympathizing with Ken's unwavering devotion. The fake coupon game isnt a joke. And I just want to play the humanity of the guy while adding some comedic elements to him.. She was sentenced to two years in prison, with credit for 287 days served, and seven years of supervised probation. 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. 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). The women sold their counterfeit coupons on various online sites, including eBay and their own website, SavvyShopperSite.com. Previously, she worked as a singer and songwriter, penning hitslike Eminem and Rihanna's "The Monster" and collaborating with bands such as Florida Georgia Line. On the case to bust them: a supermarkets loss-prevention officer and a US postal inspector, played by Paul Walter HauserandVince Vaughn, respectively. They were also ordered to pay Proctor & Gamble more than $1.2 million. Rexha's character helps Connie and JoJo evade the authorities, mainly by strengthening their internet security. Indeed, the movie is inspired by a true story, but just how closely does the film follow the events and people its based on? 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 Ken is the kind of guy who desperately wants to present himself as a stoic, but when alone, screams in rage. We dont want people to think its funny. 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. Queenpins is Rexha's first major acting role. And it does seem like Queenpinswill take a comedic look at the inequality underpinning the counterfeit coupon market. They don't call it robbery; they prefer "removing" or "separating.". 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. 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. Here's the cast and character guide and the real-life counterparts. The leader, Ramirez, pleaded guilty to fraud, counterfeiting, and illegal control of an enterprise. 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. Yes. 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. 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. She suggestsmaking fake identities and multiple accounts to store their earnings. 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. 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. And where does that curmudgeonly frame come from? 'They're buying bunches, and they're redeeming them in bunches.'. 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. 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. Husband-and-wife filmmakers Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly did fly to Arizona in 2018 to interview the real detective who worked the case. But its funny that its gotten so much attention, Lake said. After gathering sufficient evidence, Simon and Ken finally get agents to arrest the pair.

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