Hollywood Director Sentenced for Defrauding Netflix of £8m

Hollywood director Carl Rinsch has been sentenced to over two years in prison for scamming Netflix out of $11 million (£8.2 million) by failing to deliver on a promised sci-fi series. Keanu Reeves, who worked with Rinsch on the film “47 Ronin,” wrote a letter to the judge in support of Rinsch, asking for leniency in his sentencing. Despite this plea, Rinsch was still sentenced to serve time in prison starting in September.

Rinsch admitted to struggling with mental health issues that may have influenced his actions. He expressed remorse for his behavior and acknowledged the harm he caused. US District Judge Jed S Rakoff recognized Rinsch’s mental health struggles but maintained that they did not excuse his deceitful actions towards Netflix.

In March 2020, Netflix had provided Rinsch with $11 million to produce the series “White Horse.” However, Rinsch allegedly squandered most of the money through risky stock market investments and cryptocurrency trading. Despite assuring Netflix that production was progressing smoothly, Rinsch failed to deliver on the series, resulting in its cancellation and financial losses for the streaming service.

As a consequence of his actions, Rinsch was ordered to pay back $12 million (£8.9 million) to Netflix. Despite his legal troubles, Rinsch seems to have found support from those close to him as he faces the consequences of his actions.