A New York jury determined that filmmaker Carl Rinsch committed fraud against Netflix, taking over $11 million for a science fiction series that was never finished.
After a trial lasting less than two weeks, a jury reached a verdict in just a few hours of discussion at a Manhattan federal court, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
Carl Rinsch, the director of 47 Ronin, was accused of wire fraud and money laundering. While he potentially faced up to 90 years in prison, experts believe Judge Jed Rakoff will give him a much shorter sentence. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 17, 2026.
Following the verdict, U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton stated that Carl Erik Rinsch misused $11 million intended for a television program by gambling it on risky stock and cryptocurrency investments. He emphasized that the conviction demonstrates their commitment to pursuing and holding accountable those who steal from investors.
Rinsch maintained his innocence and took the stand to explain his side of the story. He stated that the money he received from Netflix, along with millions he’d already gotten for the unfinished series initially called White Horse (later renamed Conquest), went towards funding the project itself. He believed the existing footage could have convinced Netflix to order another season.
Despite testimony from former Netflix leaders Cindy Holland and Peter Friedlander, the jury didn’t believe his story. Prosecutors claim Rinsch intentionally planned a fraudulent scheme to obtain money through lies and deception.
Rinsch was charged with several crimes, including wire fraud and money laundering, each of which could result in up to 20 years in prison. He also faced five counts related to illegally obtained money, with each count carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years. He had been released on a $100,000 bond after being indicted in March.
Netflix originally invested over $44 million in the project and later added another $11 million to cover production costs. Despite this, the series was canceled in 2021 with only short previews finished, resulting in a loss of over $55 million for Netflix. In 2024, Netflix won a legal case against the show’s creator, receiving $12 million after he had claimed they owed him $14 million. He still hasn’t returned the money he received from Netflix.
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2025-12-12 15:44