A pair of housewives create a $40 million coupon scam. 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. The story actually began more than a decade ago, when the women started selling their coupons online. Ame shielded her eyes from the sunlight, "It's just that it's been a while since I've been on duty at daytime.". 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. According to Time magazine, they went undercover and purchased coupons as part of their effort to locate the source. Mugshots of the real women behind Queenpins are displayed below. Queenpins - Chapter 3 - Elias_Pedro - Archive of Our Own 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.. 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. Queenpins Writers Balance Comedic Tone with Real-Life Drama in Coupon 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. 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. They were ringleader Robin Ramirez (46 at the time of her arrest), Marilyn Johnson (62), and Amiko "Amy" Fountain (42). Queenpins. 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. Judge Rosa Mroz of Maricopa County Superior Court ordered all three to payProcter & Gamble $1,288,682 in reimbursement. Related:Free Guy Cast, Characters & All Cameos Guide. The site's critics consensus reads: "Lowbrow humor and inconsistent storytelling undercut Queenpins' talented cast, making this coupon-clipping comedy a disappointingly poor bargain. No. [10], On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 47% based on 62 reviews with an average rating of 5.40/10. I was very excited when I saw on the front page of the script that was based on a true story. Herreal-life counterpart isRobin Ramirez, who police considered the ringleader of the criminal operation. 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. Okeniyi appeared in The Hunger Games and Run Sweetheart Run, and his next role is in Greek Freak. 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. Queenpins (2021) - IMDb We dont want people to think they can do this, he said. David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHOat the time. Despite the absurdity of the synopsis, believe it or not,Queenpins is based on a true story. Vince Vaughn's other moviesincludemany big-budget action films and comedies such as The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, and Wedding Crashers. 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 - Contemporary Robin Hoods grounded in the real world Afterwards, the duo begins their own website and small business "Savvy Super Saver", which helps them sell numerous coupons and generate profit. 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. They also seized more than $2 million in other assets, including 22 guns, cash, 21 vehicles, and a speed boat. Thats the type of money they had, Sgt. [8], In June 2021, Showtime and Paramount+ acquired U.S. pay TV and streaming rights to the film for about $20 million. The site's name was inspired by the legit coupon magazine Savvy Shopper, which is in no way related. 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. 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. A reality television series about this trend had an episode on the Arizona coupon case. Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly's Queenpins concerns two Arizona suburbanites, Connie (Kristen Bell) and JoJo (Kirby . No, not at all, Bell told TheWrap. She is also known for her appearances in Killing Eve and Cruella. For her first film since Frozen II (the 10th highest-grossing movie of all-time . [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. However, everything that's built onto this premise in the movie is almost entirely fictional. The trios many customers never faced charges but they might have. Paul Walter Hauser's character, Ken Miller, seems to be a very loosely-inspired caricature of Bud Miller, the Executive Director of the Coupon Information Corporation (CIC). But its funny that its gotten so much attention, Lake said. 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. It appeared the women were making so much money, they werent even sure how to spend it all. The crime comedy is based on a counterfeit coupon empire that shocked law enforcement. He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. Fountain and Johnson both still live and work in the Phoenix area, in professions that have nothing to do with coupons. 'Queenpins': Here's the Real Story Behind Kristen Bell's Crime Comedy A quarter of the U.S. will fall inside an extreme heat belt. [9], Other box office grosses include Russia ($326,012), Ukraine ($221,109), 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 Offense, But These 2 Big Retailers Aren't The Cheapest Ad MoneyWise. 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. The fake coupon game isnt a joke. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. [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. The opulence and the money was the equivalent of drug cartel-type of stuff. A judge sentenced Ramirez to twenty-four months in prison and seven years probation. For example, a person could use a $25 coupon to purchase a $15 bag of dog food and receive the difference in cash. Here's the cast and character guide for Queenpins, along with comparisons to some of the characters' counterparts in real life. The Phoenix Police Department conducted undercover operations in which they purchased the counterfeit coupons. Kristen Bell stars as Connie Kaminski, a suburban housewife who just wants to find a solution for the debtburying her and her husband. She really likes to watch out the window as we land and it helps calm her down. Produced by Music by Siddhartha Khosla . I'd recommend this film for unwinding on a Friday night after a long week. 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 opening scenes show Bell's character getting arrested before a flashback to explain what happened. They enjoy their newfound wealth, only to have their criminal enterprise crumble when they are investigated, raided, and arrested. You cant make this stuff up and the filmmakers didnt have to. But thats just Connie and Jojo. The coupons are being sent through the mail and the FBI does not take it seriouslybecause it's coupons. Goodbye coupons, hello high prices. They were ringleader Robin Ramirez (46 at the time of her arrest), Marilyn Johnson (62), and Amiko "Amy" Fountain (42). Lets break it down. Tellingly, the changes to the details of the real law enforcement and private investigators make them less sympathetic. 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. Some movies are based on true stories, some movies are inspired by true stories. While the movie is focused on two women, there were three at the heart of the real coupon ring. 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." -TIME, Copyright 2023 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media. Police in Phoenix, Arizona, announced the arrest of three women after they confiscated more than $25 million worth of fake coupons in a raid. Having had enough of his lack of support, she declares that she wants a divorce. 'Sometimes I would come out with three carts of groceries.'. The duo bond on their mission, with Simon sympathizing with Ken's unwavering devotion. 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. Meanwhile, Ken is partnered with U.S. postal inspector Simon Kilmurry. Judge Daniel Martin sentenced her to 24 months, as well as seven years probation. And I just want to play the humanity of the guy while adding some comedic elements to him.. 17:23 EST 23 Jul 2021 Required fields are marked *. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. Kristen Bell as Connie Kaminski and Kirby Howell-Baptiste as JoJo Johnson in QUEENPINS.
