Federal prosecutors have indicted filmmaker Carl Erik Rinsch, alleging he misappropriated $11 million from Netflix to fund dangerous inventory and cryptocurrency trades as a substitute of manufacturing a sci-fi tv collection.
The U.S. Division of Justice (DOJ) unsealed the indictment in a Manhattan federal court docket on March 18, charging Rinsch with fraud and cash laundering.
If convicted, he might resist 20 years in jail.
Prosecutors: Netflix Funded Rinsch’s Sci-Fi Collection Earlier than Alleged Misuse
Based on prosecutors, Netflix supplied Rinsch with the funds in March 2020 to finance the event of White Horse, later renamed Conquest.
The cash was supposed to cowl bills akin to storyboarding, casting, and post-production.
Nevertheless, authorities declare Rinsch diverted roughly $10.5 million right into a brokerage account, making high-risk trades, together with name choices on a biopharmaceutical firm.
The failed investments reportedly resulted in losses exceeding $5.5 million.
Right now @SDNYLIVE charging CARL ERIK RINSCH for scheme to defraud a subscription video on-demand streaming service in reference to a deliberate science fiction tv present known as “White Horse.” RINSCH was arrested immediately in West Hollywood, California pic.twitter.com/HCsD29vpbd
— Interior Metropolis Press (@innercitypress) March 18, 2025
Regardless of depleting Netflix’s funds, Rinsch allegedly continued assuring the streaming platform that manufacturing was progressing easily.
His luck turned in early 2021 when he profited from cryptocurrency buying and selling, prosecutors stated.
With these beneficial properties, he allegedly spent lavishly, buying practically $3.8 million value of furnishings and antiques, 5 Rolls-Royces, a Ferrari, high-end watches, and designer clothes value over $3 million.
Though the indictment doesn’t explicitly title Netflix, The New York Instances beforehand reported on the corporate’s dispute with Rinsch over Conquest.
Netflix Paid $55M to Filmmaker for The Sci-Fi Undertaking
Netflix reportedly paid him $55 million for the undertaking however canceled it in early 2021 after his conduct turned erratic. Prosecutors, nonetheless, declare he acquired $44 million in whole.
Past playing and luxurious purchases, Rinsch allegedly spent practically $1.8 million on bank card payments and $1 million in authorized charges, a few of which funded a lawsuit in opposition to Netflix for added cash and coated his divorce prices.
Rinsch faces a number of expenses, together with one depend of wire fraud, one depend of cash laundering, and 5 counts of partaking in illegal financial transactions.
The fraud and cash laundering expenses every carry a most 20-year sentence, whereas the financial transactions expenses every maintain a 10-year most penalty.
Following his arrest on March 18, Rinsch’s case was assigned to U.S. District Decide Jed Rakoff in New York.
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