Whatever Happened to the Real-Life "Queenpins"? In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. 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. I just decided I really wanted to play the curmudgeon nature of the character. At the time of her arrest, investigators discovered Ramirez had four online accounts and 12 bank accounts. Fountain and Johnson were both sentenced to three years probation after pleading guilty to a single count of counterfeiting. I was very excited when I saw on the front page of the script that was based on a true story. Hauser previouslyworked with Howell-Baptiste in Cruella and also appeared in I, Tonya. The filmmakers, Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, chose not to interview the real Queenpins for the movie. No one who purchased coupons faced legal repercussions, but one cant help but think that they are the real losers here. These are free item coupons,' Police Sgt. 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. Kristen Bell leads a strong cast in 'Queenpins,' in theaters Sept. 10 According to Sgt. Here's the cast and character guide for Queenpins, along with comparisons to some of the characters' counterparts in real life. They included coupons for anything from Hershey bars to dog food to diapers. Bell will next be lending her voice to the animated show Do, Re & Mi, as well as appearing in the miniseries The Woman in the House. I'd recommend this film for unwinding on a Friday night after a long week. 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. 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. 'Sometimes I would come out with three carts of groceries.'. 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. This is based on the true story of three women: Robin Ramirez, Marilyn Johnson, and Amiko "Amy" Fountain. The true story behind Queenpins reveals that the women bought them in bulk overseas and then posted them for sale on sites like eBay and their own website, SavvyShopperSite.com, which is now defunct. However, they quickly learned that with a little crime, they could actually make money off of it. This happened after various companies that had been impacted by the bogus coupons hired private investigators to uncover the origins of the coupons. -TIME, Copyright 2023 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media. Neither of them responded to requests for comment about their case, and how or whether they have managed to move on from it. We're all looking for a loophole to find our joy and happiness in life." Ramirez, the ringleader, was the only one sentenced to prison time two years while her counterparts got probation. Ame shielded her eyes from the sunlight, "It's just that it's been a while since I've been on duty at daytime.". But thats just Connie and Jojo. David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHOat the time. 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. Howell-Baptiste previously worked with Bell on Veronica Mars and The Good Place. MSN Article It was then that they learned of the fakes that were in circulation. The comments below have not been moderated, By 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. 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 That's one reasonbeyond saving moneythe scam was so successful. If you can get an unlimited number of those, think how this grows. 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. 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). It's very easy to say their words," says Kristen. And they get a monthly reminder every time they make their latest restitution payment. A Loss Prevention Officer and U.S. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to clean the money theyve made from selling coupons. Queenpins (2021) - Full Cast & Crew - IMDb And where does that curmudgeonly frame come from? The group would have fake coupons made oversees, including reproductions of legitimate coupons and made-up ones with steep savings. And the women wont be getting any windfall from Queenpins. David Lake of the Phoenix Police Department. 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. Queenpins (2021) - IMDb That includes the details about the women and the two men chasing after them. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to. Dejected and frustrated suburban housewife Connie Kaminski (ne Stevens), a three-time gold-medal-winning former Olympic racewalker, has followed the conventional life path set for her by society ever since she was young. The story of the three womens 2012 arrests for coupon fraud is back in the news, as the major motion picture they inspired is set to open in theaters this Friday. Fountain and Johnson each pleaded guilty to one charge of counterfeiting. The real Queenpins' mugshots are displayed below. But Lake determinedly led his team in pursuing the case. Her next acting roleisfor the movie Confess, Fletch. 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. Thats the type of money they had, Sgt. 'Queenpins': Here's the Real Story Behind Kristen Bell's Crime Comedy Queenpins - Contemporary Robin Hoods grounded in the real world 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. Yes. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to clean the money theyve made from selling coupons. After a particularly frustrating day, Connie writes a complaint letter to General Mills about the Wheaties she ate being stale, and soon, she receives a coupon for a free box of cereal. He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. Their unbelievable success eventually catches the attention of law enforcement. 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. 'Queenpins': Here's the Real Story Behind Kristen Bell's Crime Comedy The duo bond on their mission, with Simon sympathizing with Ken's unwavering devotion. Shedisplays considerable comedy chopsin films like Bad Momsand is also well-known for her role as Anna inDisney's Frozen franchise. 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. He can next be seen in the movie Delia's Gone. The story actually began more than a decade ago, when the women started selling their coupons online. 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. They may also expose themselves to additional risk by providing their names, home addresses, and financial information to organized crime rings." The REAL story behind Kristen Bell's upcoming movie Queenpins It might have been more interesting to have lead police officer on the case a woman, as it was in the actual arrest. But I I sort of didnt approach it from an occupational standpoint, Houser told TheWrap. [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. Queenpins is a 2021 American comedy film written and directed by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly. The comedy Queenpins features a talented cast coming together to tell a crazy true story. People who purchased coupons on the site could use them for an item and even get cash back if the value of the coupon exceeded the item's price. Queenpins' cast of characters also includes familiar faces like Bebe Rexha, Vince Vaughn, and Joel McHale in supporting roles. The coupons were sold on a site called Savvy Shopper Site, to which interested parties had to be referred or invited directly to use. Lets break it down. Woman on Plane: Hey sorry, uhm, would you mind if we switched seats, just for this last part? -Investigative Consultants. Her ancestry is Polish (mother) and German, English, Irish, and Scottish (father). Missing Pittsburgh street preacher known as 'The Sparrow' who vanished 30 YEARS ago is found ALIVE and living in 'It's a vindication of what I've been through': Georgia Harrison tells of her 'relief' as shamed reality star ex Two Insulate Britain protesters are jailed for contempt of court after they defied a judge's orders not to refer Isabel Oakeshott receives 'menacing' message from Matt Hancock, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA, Mom who lost both sons to fentanyl blasts laughing Biden, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' The film revolves around an ordinary suburban housewife's desire to forge her own path, which ultimately leads her to the world of scams. They joined forces with several other affected companies and hired private investigators to track the source of the fraudulent coupons. The leader, Ramirez, pleaded guilty to fraud, counterfeiting, and illegal control of an enterprise. It stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Paul Walter Hauser, Bebe Rexha, and Vince Vaughn. 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. "You've got yourself an eighteen-karat run of bad luck, kid.". Jack McBrayerasAgent Park - McBrayer has extensive experience in comedy. She really likes to watch out the window as we land and it helps calm her down. That is the basic premise of Queenpins, a comedy reuniting The Good Place co-stars Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste as the two leads. Others nabbed coupons for free pet food, diapers, and household goods from as many as 40 major manufacturers, including PepsiCo and Hershey. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The filmmakers are not trying to hurt anybody, or glorify the crime, theyre just trying to make a funny story. But, he cautioned, we cant say that it doesnt matter that a person is only selling coupons when we look at the amount of economic damage that does., Counterfeiters like the three Phoenix women, and the many customers who bought coupons from them, are fully aware that what theyre doing is wrong, Lake believes. 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. Watching "Queenpins" is like eating grocery store birthday cake. 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. She lives with her mother and is trying to be an entrepreneur with a series of YouTube videos featuring tips on saving. The details were first revealed after a Tuesday morning raid in July 2012 by the Phoenix Arizona Police Department. A bright spot is Bebe Rexha as a dark web expert who helps Connie and Jojo launder their money. He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. 17:23 EST 23 Jul 2021 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). He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. Will DiGravio is a Brooklyn-based critic, researcher, and video essayist, who has been a contributor at Film School Rejects since 2018. Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste star in this based-on-a-true-story film about a pair of women whose coupon-counterfeiting operation turned into more than they bargained for. Yes. A real disc jockey inspired Robin Williams classic character. A quarter of the U.S. will fall inside an extreme heat belt. Thats the type of money they had.. Having had enough of his lack of support, she declares that she wants a divorce. From writer-directors Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, the film stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Ba. 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. You can't make this stuff up - and the filmmakers didn't have to. Queenpins Cast And Character Guide: Where You Know The Actors From On a message board, one fan raved about paying $7 for a mega pack of Pampers, with no max value meaning a shopper could get more than $50 worth of product free. 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. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. And it seems like the makers of the movie share this sentiment. Kristen Bell Runs A Real-Life Coupon Scam In 'Queenpins' Trailer - UPROXX Queenpins. If you can get an unlimited number of those, think how this grows" (Yahoo Finance). After gathering sufficient evidence, Simon and Ken finally get agents to arrest the pair. 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. Postal Inspector lead the investigation into their activities, encountering multiple humorous setbacks along the way. 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). Goodbye coupons, hello high prices. 'Queenpins': Here's the Real Story Behind Kristen Bell - TheWrap That would be too prestigious for Hauser's wannabe-cop Miller (Hauser borrows from his 2019 performance in Richard Jewell). You don't always get your way. Ben Stiller serves as an executive producer under his Red Hour Productions banner. Ramirez, then 40, Fountain, then 42, and Johnson, then 54, were arrested andcharged with counterfeiting, forgery, money laundering, operating an illegal enterprise, and other crimes. 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. The FBI has crooks who commit moremanly crimes to track down. Lets break it down. Coupon enthusiast Jill Cataldo warns, "Even though many places sell coupons online, you should never buy them. 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? For the most part, yes. Details of the true story at the heart of Queenpinswere first revealed in July 2012. Queenpins True Story: The Real-Life Inspiration Explained - ScreenRant Tempe Tina does not have a real-life counterpart. Capitalism always knows how to win. Ben Stiller serves as an executive producer under his Red Hour Productions banner. While the characters in Queenpins are fictional, the crime they came up with is the real deal. Fountain and Johnson were both sentenced to three years probation after pleading guilty to a single count of counterfeiting. "This is to American companies who produced American products and hire American citizens" (DSA). .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. The only real-life individual you could say was better off after the case than before, is the man who cracked the case. Autumn has a Master of Arts in English from Northern Michigan University, where she also taught superhero-themed composition courses. The ring used a series of twelve different bank accounts to house their money. Watch Queenpins | Prime Video - amazon.com 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. 'We were ordering hundreds of dollars in coupons every month,' one anonymous user toldKentuckys WPSD. Thecomedy Queenpins features a talented cast coming together to tell a crazy true story. Queenpins Movie Writer-Directors Aron Gaudet and Gita - Awardsdaily US Postal Inspector Simon Kilmurry (Vince Vaughn) appears to be entirely fictional. She portrays a fictional computer hacker named Tempe Tina, who helps the two main characters with their coupon scam. They'd then sell them on eBay and a website, SavvyShopperSite, for a profit. Police in Phoenix, Arizona, announced the arrest of three women after they confiscated more than $25 million worth of fake coupons in a raid. On the real Queenpins website, SavvyShopperSite.com, they sold free-product coupons, with the caveat that you must spend at least $50 on coupons per order. The women sold their counterfeit coupons on various online sites, including eBay and their own website, SavvyShopperSite.com. 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. Joel McHaleas Rick Kaminski- McHale plays Connie's husband who is worried about their growing amount of debt. Savvy Shopper Site had a few other suspicious requirements. The Coupon Queens cheated as many as 40 major manufacturers (Business Insider). In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. The coupons were sold on a site called Savvy Shopper Site, to which interested parties had to be referred or invited directly to use. That's not how the world works y'know. It's unclear if their real-life counterparts,Ramirez, Fountain, and Johnson, had such charitable aspirations when they started their illicitenterprise. Being clever with coupons makes her feel like she is making a financial contribution. However, everything that's built onto this premise in the movie is almost entirely fictional. The site's name was inspired by the legit coupon magazine Savvy Shopper, which is in no way related. FREE FIRE TOP 3 GAME REAL CHARACTER para SAMSUNG A3,A5,A6 A7,J2,J5,J7 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. The film is based on the true story of three Arizona women arrested in 2012 for a $40 million fraud involving coupons. They were charged with counterfeiting, forgery, operating an illegal enterprise, money laundering, and other violations. Indeed, the movie is inspired by a true story, but just how closely does the film follow the events and people its based on? YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. 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. Ill go out on a limb here and predict that their once noble intentions go off the rails. Singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha makes her feature film debut in the Queenpins movie. By Just to make him more sympathetic, in addition to the $2 an hour, he has a pregnant wife who also works at the factory. Like a coupon high, the fun of this movie does not last. But lets be honest: its hard to feel too sorry for the corporations in this instance. I have never purchased coupons from a clipping service or an auction site." And where does that curmudgeonly frame come from? That's the psychological illogic of coupons, referred to in the movie as the "coupon high." She and JoJo then learn that the coupons originate from an Advanced Solutions factory in Chihuahua, Mexico, deciding to travel there and collect the coupons to redistribute to other mothers and wives. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. Ken: Yeah no, even if I wanted to switch, I think it's more important that your daughter learn a valuable lesson. Queenpins has arrived in theaters and on Paramount+, telling the story of the countrys largest counterfeit coupon scam. In real life, the FBI did get involved, along with the non-profit Coupon Information Center. Summary: Amelia Watson, a senior but loose cannon, problem child detective of City PD, has to prevent a war. The last 20 minutes lose sight of whatever point they are trying to make beyond the fun of seeing people get away with breaking the rules. The three women, Robin Ramirez, Amiko Fountain, and Marilyn Johnson, mostly sold free-product coupons. That is the basic premise of Queenpins, a comedy reuniting The Good Placeco-stars Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste as the two leads. 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. Herreal-life counterpart isRobin Ramirez, who police considered the ringleader of the criminal operation.

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