Carl Rinsch Found Guilty of Swindling Netflix Out of $11 Million
Director Carl Rinsch Found Guilty of Defrauding Netflix
On Thursday, director Carl Rinsch was convicted on charges of defrauding Netflix out of $11 million during the production of the sci-fi series “White Horse,” which was never completed.
Rinsch, 48, is facing the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence after being found guilty of wire fraud, money laundering, and illegal transactions.
During the trial, Rinsch claimed that there was a misunderstanding and that he needed the money for pre-production on the second season of the show. However, Netflix denied ordering a second season and stated that the first season was far from completion.
Prosecutors argued that Rinsch concealed his motives for obtaining the money and went on a spending spree with the funds. They presented evidence including bank records and emails to support their case.
During the trial, several Netflix executives testified, and it was revealed that Rinsch had quickly transferred the money into a brokerage account. The prosecution also highlighted Rinsch’s extravagant spending on luxury items and investments that resulted in substantial losses.
Rinsch’s defense lawyer argued that the luxury purchases were irrelevant to the case and challenged the testimony of Netflix executives. The defense hinted at a defense of Rinsch’s mental state but did not pursue it during the trial.
Rinsch claimed that his purchases were legitimate and necessary for the show, but prosecutors urged the jury to see through his lies.
The case has drawn attention for its dramatic twists and turns, with Rinsch’s conviction marking a significant downfall for the once-promising director.
