EXCLUSIVE: Sony Pictures Television introduces the limited series jackpot into early development inspired by the tough life of RJ Cipriani (aka Robin Hood 702), the high-stakes gambler and FBI-turned confidential source in Philly, the lynchpin in the busting of a multimillion-dollar drug ring. Nicholas Stoller and his Stoller Global Solutions partner Conor Welch and Jamie Canniffe are Executive Producers at Cipriani.
Nicholas Stoeller
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Cipriani, a gambler known for giving his winnings to the less fortunate, unknowingly plunged him into a money laundering scheme through his chance encounter with an ex-girlfriend that eventually led to one of the biggest cases in FBI history, the led to over 1,000 arrests around the world. The series follows the player known to the FBI as “Jackpot” as he navigates an insane web of characters who could easily kill him and his family if he can’t bring them down first. The series is billed as a part Donnie Brasco and Part ocean 11
Cipriani was a key domino in the FBI’s dismantling of former USC soccer player and drug lord Owen Hanson’s violent empire that spanned the United States, Central and South America, and Australia. Hanson began dealing recreational drugs and steroids to teammates in college in the early 2000s, which morphed into a global network. Cipriani was hired by Hanson to gamble $2.5 million through the drug lord’s money laundering scheme. The player intentionally lost all his money playing blackjack and spurred Hanson to make death threats, including sending Cipriani photos of his late mother’s defaced gravestone, photos of his wife along with her personal information, and a video showing beheadings.
Hanson was arrested in September 2015 and sentenced to more than 21 years in federal prison in late 2017. The drug lord was ordered to pay a $5 million criminal foreclosure that included $100,000 in gold coins, luxury vehicles, jewelry, vacation homes, a sailboat and interests in several companies.
One device used to take down Hanson was the Phantom Secure mobile phone, which was developed and sold to criminals around the world. Hanson bought several of these phones and falsely gave one to an FBI undercover agent, who split the case among thousands of criminals who were under FBI surveillance in multiple jurisdictions around the world on and off the drug lord’s case. Use of the ANOM phone led to the arrests of 800 criminals in one day in a covert operation by the FBI and global law enforcement agencies. Later the FBI had the great idea to release their own encrypted phone and they called it ANOM.
The breakup of Hanson’s ring has spurred the development of two competing documentaries, one on Netflix, Deadline first said, and another on Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson and Archie Gips’ Unrealistic Ideas with producer Van Echeverri.
Stoller’s gay romantic comedy brothers starring Billie Eichner had its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, the picture achieved 89% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and an A CinemaScore. Stoller is the director of the $379 million worldwide comedy franchise Neighbors, forget Sarah Marshall, take him to Greek and the animated feature storks. On TV he was the EP of the Fox series The grinder and the NBC comedy series The Carmichael Show.
Cipriani is represented by UTA. Stoller is represented by UTA and Ziffren Brittenham.