Carl Rinsch has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for defrauding streaming giant Netflix out of $11 million (£8.7 million) intended for an uncompleted science-fiction series, per bbc.com.
The 48-year-old filmmaker, best known for directing the 2013 fantasy film 47 Ronin, was sentenced in a New York federal court on June 29 after being convicted of federal wire fraud and other charges in December.
The court heard that Netflix initially paid Rinsch an estimated $44 million across 2018 and 2019 to develop a series titled “White Horse”. In 2020, Rinsch requested a further $11 million after claiming additional funds were required to finish production. Instead of funding the project, Rinsch diverted the capital into a personal account, subsequently losing roughly half the amount through unsuccessful financial investments within a matter of months.
Prosecutors revealed that Rinsch used the remaining funds to finance an extravagant lifestyle, purchasing five Rolls-Royce vehicles, a red Ferrari and $652,000 worth of luxury clothing and designer watches. His expenditures also included $638,000 on two bespoke mattresses and an additional $295,000 on high-end bedding and household linens.
Prior to sentencing, federal prosecutors argued for a five-year prison term, citing “naked greed” as the primary motivation for an individual who already possessed family wealth, an elite education and a prominent professional network.
Rinsch and his legal counsel maintained that his actions were exacerbated by severe mental health struggles and prescription medication complications. Addressing the court, Rinsch apologised, stating that the process forced him to confront his judgement, and acknowledged that real harm had been caused.
US District Judge Jed S. Rakoff ruled that while the director’s mental health difficulties might contextualise his excessive spending, they did not diminish the deliberate nature of the deception. In addition to his 30-month custodial term, Rinsch is required to pay approximately $11 million in restitution. He is scheduled to report to prison in September, and his legal team intends to appeal the conviction.
•Featured image: Carl Rinsch/Getty Images