Home / Crime and Justice / Director Jailed for Netflix $11M Fraud
Director Jailed for Netflix $11M Fraud
29 Jun
Summary
- Director Carl Rinsch received a two-and-a-half-year sentence for defrauding Netflix.
- Rinsch scammed $11 million, later used for luxury goods and stock bets.
- Keanu Reeves advocated for leniency on Rinsch's behalf.
Director Carl Rinsch was sentenced to two and a half years in prison on Monday for defrauding Netflix of $11 million. This sentence follows his conviction in December for fraud and money laundering related to the uncompleted sci-fi series "White Horse."
Judge Jed Rakoff stated that Rinsch never intended to finish the series, aiming instead to conceal his actions through illicit means. Prosecutors had requested a five-year sentence, highlighting Rinsch's misuse of funds for speculative stock options and cryptocurrency, alongside significant personal luxury purchases.
The project, originally acquired by Netflix for over $61 million, saw Rinsch demand an additional $11 million after using $44 million of the budget without delivering a final product. Actor Keanu Reeves intervened, submitting a letter to the court advocating for leniency and mercy, while acknowledging Rinsch's tendency to self-sabotage.
