NEW YORK: Film director Carl Rinsch, known for 47 Ronin, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for defrauding Netflix out of millions of dollars.
Rinsch was convicted last year of misusing about $11 million provided by the streaming company in 2020 for a planned science fiction series called White Horse. Prosecutors said he used the money for personal expenses and risky investments instead of producing the show.
Authorities said Rinsch spent large sums on luxury items, including designer clothing, furniture, a Ferrari and five Rolls-Royces. He also invested in high-risk stock options and cryptocurrency.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton said Rinsch diverted funds that were meant for production and used them for personal gain. In addition to the prison sentence, Rinsch has been ordered to forfeit $11 million.
His lawyers had asked the court for leniency, saying the misuse of funds happened during a difficult period in his career and amid a contentious divorce.
Although Netflix was not directly named in the indictment, court records show the dispute involved a planned series later referred to as Conquest, originally titled White Horse. The project reportedly centered on a scientist who creates powerful clones placed in a restricted area where they develop advanced technology and come into conflict with humans.
Rinsch began his directing career with 47 Ronin, starring Keanu Reeves. Before sentencing, Reeves submitted a letter to the court requesting leniency, describing Rinsch as a talented filmmaker who struggled with self-destructive behavior.
