{"id":18795,"date":"2026-06-29T22:32:07","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T22:32:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=18795"},"modified":"2026-06-29T22:32:07","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T22:32:07","slug":"director-carl-rinsch-is-sentenced-to-prison-in-11m-fraud-case-over-unfinished-netflix-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=18795","title":{"rendered":"Director Carl Rinsch is sentenced to prison in $11M fraud case over unfinished Netflix show"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

By JENNIFER PELTZ<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Hollywood writer-director Carl Rinsch was sentenced Monday to 2 1\/2 years in prison after being convicted of defrauding Netflix out of $11 million for a never-finished sci-fi series. Supporters including Keanu Reeves had asked the court to show him leniency.<\/p>\n

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Rinsch, best known for the 2013 samurai fantasy film \u201c47 Ronin,\u201d was convicted in December of federal wire fraud and other charges. According to prosecutors and trial testimony, he told Netflix he needed $11 million to finish a show called \u201cWhite Horse\u201d but diverted the money into a personal account and ultimately spent whopping sums on luxury cars, watches, clothes and household goods, including $638,000 on two mattresses.<\/p>\n

Rinsch, 48, and his lawyers told the court Monday that his behavior was fueled by mental health struggles and medication problems, which they said he is now addressing with a new care provider.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis process has forced me to confront things about my health, my judgment and my life,\u201d Rinsch said. He apologized for his behavior, acknowledged that \u201creal harm was caused,\u201d and explained: \u201cI failed to recognize the danger of the state I was in.\u201d<\/p>\n

His psychological troubles weren\u2019t described in court, and he and his lawyers declined to detail them afterward.<\/p>\n

Prosecutors argued that Rinsch \u2014- who also owes about $11 million in restitution \u2014 should serve five years in prison.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Rinsch had every possible advantage,\u201d including family money, an elite education, famous friends and a high-flying career, prosecutor David Markewitz told the court. Rinsch\u2019s motive, the prosecutor said, \u201cwas naked greed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Rinsch, who also has used the name Carl Erik Rinsch professionally, hails from the Los Angeles area and began making short films as a teenager. He later directed commercials, then got attention for \u201c47 Ronin,\u201d which stars Reeves. His character leads outcast samurai seeking to avenge their master\u2019s killing.<\/p>\n

Rinsch \u201cbring exceptional joy and warmth to the people around him\u201d and \u201ccreative inspiration to others through his creativity and vision,\u201d Reeves told the court in a letter ahead of Rinsch\u2019s sentencing.<\/p>\n

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The \u201cMatrix\u201d star acknowledged that Rinsch \u201ccan self-sabotage by amplifying the scale, scope and landscape of what had been negotiated.\u201d But he said he hoped the director\u2019s sentence \u201cmight be tempered with measures of leniency and mercy as well as justice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prosecutors said Netflix initially paid Rinsch about $44 million for \u201cWhite Horse\u201d in 2018 and 2019, then provided another $11 million in 2020 after he said he needed more money to wrap up production.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

But instead of putting that money toward the show, Rinsch steered the cash to a personal account and made a series of failed investments, losing around half the $11 million in a couple of months, according to prosecutors and witnesses\u2019 testimony.<\/p>\n

They said he put the remaining funds into the cryptocurrency market, netting some profit, which Rinsch deposited into his own bank account.<\/p>\n

Then came the lavish purchases, prosecutors said, with Rinsch buying five Rolls-Royces, a red Ferrari, $652,000 worth of watches and clothes, and the pricey mattresses, plus another $295,000 on luxury bedding and linens. In addition, he used some of the money to pay off about $1.8 million in credit card bills, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n

U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff said Rinsch\u2019s mental health difficulties \u201cmay explain some of the excesses\u201d but don\u2019t \u201cdetract from the court\u2019s conclusion that he was determined to lie to get substantial monies from Netflix, lie to cover it up.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Rakoff announced the prison term, Rinsch wrote on a piece of paper on a table in front of him. One of his lawyers, Benjamin Zeman, patted the director\u2019s back.<\/p>\n

After court, Rinsch \u2014 who\u2019s due to report to prison in September \u2014 hugged several people who had come to support him. He and his lawyers declined to comment as they left, except that attorney Daniel McGuinness said they looked forward to appealing the case.<\/p>\n

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Netflix declined to comment on his sentence.<\/p>\n

Associated Press writer Michael R. Sisak contributed.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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