And in terms of the crime itself, Queenpins stayed pretty loyal. Ramirez pleaded guilty to illegal control of an enterprise, counterfeiting and fraud. 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. 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. The amount covered all of P&G's losses, for the fake coupons as well as extra manpower needed to deal with the issue. 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 bare-bones blueprint for the story is accurate; a small group of women make millions selling counterfeit coupons. And where does that curmudgeonly frame come from? These are free-item coupons," Phoenix Police Sgt. Lets break it down. Okeniyi appeared in The Hunger Games and Run Sweetheart Run, and his next role is in Greek Freak. That would be too prestigious for Hauser's wannabe-cop Miller (Hauser borrows from his 2019 performance in Richard Jewell). We dont want people to think they can do this, he said. She also was ordered to pay restitution of up to $5 million. They don't call it robbery; they prefer "removing" or "separating.". 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.. 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. I just decided I really wanted to play the curmudgeon nature of the character. Goodbye coupons, hello high prices. But thats just Connie and Jojo. 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 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. He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. So will Robin Ramirez, Amiko Fountain and Marilyn Johnson be going to see Queenpins this weekend? [9], Other box office grosses include Russia ($326,012), Ukraine ($221,109), Kristen Bell And Kirby Howell-Baptiste Run A Multi-Million Dollar Coupon Scam In The 'Queenpins' Trailer. The fake coupon game isnt a joke. No, not at all, Bell told TheWrap. ', 'These people aren't buying a few coupons from this site,' Officer James Holmes added. 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 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. Thecomedy Queenpins features a talented cast coming together to tell a crazy true story. Authorities later estimated that the coupon ring cost corporations hundreds of millions of dollars in profit. On the case to bust them: a supermarkets loss-prevention officer and a US postal inspector, played by Paul Walter HauserandVince Vaughn, respectively. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. According to Time magazine, they went undercover and purchased coupons as part of their effort to locate the source. By mail. $100,000 x 40 is 4 million not 40 million. The site's critics consensus reads: "Lowbrow humor and inconsistent storytelling undercut Queenpins' talented cast, making this coupon-clipping comedy a disappointingly poor bargain. David Lake of the Phoenix Police Department. They joined forces with several other affected companies and hired private investigators to track the source of the fraudulent coupons. No. The three women, Robin Ramirez, Amiko Fountain, and Marilyn Johnson, mostly sold free-product coupons. 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. Why the USPS? The real Queenpins' mugshots are displayed below. A look at what really happened with the characters of Andrew Dominiks 2007 Western epic. 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. Others nabbed coupons for free pet food, diapers, and household goods from as many as 40 major manufacturers, including PepsiCo and Hershey. I'd call it a buddy film on a couple of levels: The main characters, Connie and Jo, and then the sub-characters, Simon and Ken. David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHO at the time. [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. 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. Counterfeit Coupon Ringleader Pleads Guilty - Coupons in the News, Woman spends $600 on SavvyShopperSite.com fake coupons - Jill Cataldo. It is also revealed that Connie, after numerous unsuccessful attempts to conceive following her miscarriage, is finally pregnant through in vitro fertilization. And why Bell and co-star Paul Walter Houser didnt talk to the real people behind the characters they play. "You've got yourself an eighteen-karat run of bad luck, kid.". Mumolo was an Academy Award-nominated screenwriter for the romantic comedy Bridesmaids. This installment focuses on the true story behind the crime comedy Queenpins. She has previously appeared with Bell on Bad Moms, buther claim to fame has been in screenwriting. 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. The comedy Queenpins is inspired by the largest coupon scam in U.S. history. Fountain and Johnson both still live and work in the Phoenix area, in professions that have nothing to do with coupons. For diapers and toothpaste. 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. While the characters in Queenpins are fictional, the crime they came up with is the real deal. The opulence and the money was the equivalent of drug cartel-type of stuff. And they get a monthly reminder every time they make their latest restitution payment. While the movie is focused on two women, there were three at the heart of the real coupon ring. The counterfeiting scheme was previously featured in theCBS TV docu-series Pink Collar Crimes in 2018. 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. The movie, which premieres September 10, offers a comical take on the true story ofRobin Ramirez, Amiko Fountain, and Marilyn Johnson of Phoenix, Arizona, who were arrested in 2012 for their years-long counterfeitingracket and ordered to pay P&G millions in restitution. She was the only one of the three to receive jail time. 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. , updated Included in the seizures were $25,000,000 worth of fake coupons, 22 assault weapons, and 21 vehicles including a 40 foot boat. After tracing the origins of the ring to Phoenix, the FBI then teamed up with local law enforcement to bust the group. Queenpins' cast of characters also includes familiar faces like Bebe Rexha, Vince Vaughn, and Joel McHale in supporting roles. The other two women pleaded guilty to a single charge of counterfeiting. "I am not spending money!" Authorities also seized twenty-two assault weapons and twenty-one vehicles, including a forty-foot boat, in the raid. 'Queenpins' Plot Summary -Investigative Consultants. But thats just Connie and Jojo. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. 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. Fountain and Johnson were both sentenced to three years probation after pleading guilty to a single count of counterfeiting. FREE FIRE TOP 3 GAME REAL CHARACTER para SAMSUNG A3,A5,A6 A7,J2,J5,J7,S5,S6 S7,S9,A10,A20 A30,A50 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. Aron and I were immediately drawn to the story and had to understand it more, Pullapilly said. 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. 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. Queenpinshits theaters on September 10th and will be available to stream via Paramount+ on September 30th. We dont want people to think its funny. "This is to American companies who produced American products and hire American citizens" (DSA). Indeed, the movie is inspired by a true story, but just how closely does the film follow the events and people its based on? Talk about extreme couponing! I just decided I really wanted to play the curmudgeon nature of the character.
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