Hollywood star Keanu Reeves has appealed to a federal judge for leniency for filmmaker Carl Rinsch, convicted in an $11 million Netflix fraud case. Rinsch, who directed Reeves in ’47 Ronin’, faces sentencing for allegedly misusing funds meant for the unfinished sci-fi series ‘White Horse’. Reeves described Rinsch as a visionary artist and a friend.
Keanu Reeves has asked a federal judge to show leniency to filmmaker Carl Rinsch, who was convicted in a Netflix fraud case tied to the unfinished sci-fi series ‘White Horse’. Rinsch, who directed Reeves in the 2013 film ’47 Ronin’, faces sentencing after a Manhattan federal jury found him guilty of defrauding Netflix of USD 11 million. Reeves submitted a letter supporting Rinsch ahead of his June 29 sentencing hearing.
Keanu Reeves seeks leniency for Carl Rinsch
Deadline reported that Reeves urged the court to consider mercy while deciding Rinsch’s sentence. Business Insider also reported that Reeves’ letter was included in a Tuesday night sentencing submission filed for the director.“I am, of course, not a therapist or psychologist,” Reeves wrote in his letter to US District Judge Jed Rakoff. “I write instead as an artistic peer of Carl’s, and as a friend.”Reeves described Rinsch as an artist whose work left an impression on him. “In my opinion, Carl is an exceptional artist and ‘White Horse,’ in the form in which I saw it, was a superb and visionary work of art, although unfinished,” he wrote.The actor also said Rinsch had brought “creative inspiration” and “exceptional joy and warmth” to people around him.
Netflix fraud case and ‘White Horse’ details
Rinsch was convicted after prosecutors said he took money from Netflix to make ‘White Horse’ but did not complete the project. They alleged that he used the funds for personal spending, including food deliveries, luxury goods, and a handmade Swedish mattress. Rinsch denied wrongdoing during the trial. He testified that Netflix abandoned the series after rising production costs and problems linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also said that much of the USD 11 million was intended to reimburse him for production expenses.His attorneys have asked the court to avoid a prison sentence. One of Rinsch’s lawyers, Daniel McGuinness, told Business Insider, “Carl is deeply grateful to Mr. Reeves and to all the friends and family who stepped forward to paint a fuller picture of who he is beyond the facts of this case.”McGuinness said the letters describe Rinsch as “a remarkably talented man of strong character who confronted extraordinary challenges in the period leading up to these events.”Netflix has also asked for restitution and legal fees. Rinsch’s sentencing is scheduled for June 29.Disclaimer: The information in this report is based on a legal hearing as reported by a third-party source. The details provided represent allegations made by the parties involved and are not proven facts. The case is ongoing, and a final verdict has not been reached. The publication does not claim that the allegations are true.
