Netflix Director Found Guilty Of Defrauding Streamer Out Of Millions In Sci-Fi Series Scam

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Carl Rinsch, the director, has been convicted of fraud against Netflix because he didn’t complete his expensive science fiction series. He could face a life sentence in prison.

According to Business Insider, a New York jury convicted Rinsch of all seven charges against him on December 11th, including fraud and money laundering. Although he could potentially face up to 90 years in prison, experts anticipate a lighter sentence.

The legal issues facing Rinsch arose from a lucrative deal with Netflix to create White Horse, an ambitious science fiction series intended to be as epic as Star Wars and Game of Thrones. Netflix reportedly paid him an extra $11 million in 2020 to ensure the project’s success, but Rinsch ultimately used the funds for different purposes.

By 2019, the production of White Horse had already spent over $44 million filming six episodes across two continents. In March 2020, Rinsch secured an additional $11 million, with former Netflix leaders like Cindy Holland and Peter Friedlander stating this money was intended to complete the episodes. However, those episodes were never finished or delivered.

Rinsch told the court he thought the money he received was simply to cover his expenses. He explained that he’d personally funded the ongoing production of White Horse. He also stated that Netflix had given initial approval for planning a potential second season, a phase known as “soft pre-production.”

As a film buff, I was shocked to learn that the whole deal for White Horse was allegedly a scam. Apparently, the prosecution argued that director Carl Rinsch – who, let’s be honest, didn’t have the best track record with 47 Ronin – never actually planned to make the movie. Instead, he reportedly took the $11 million he received and put it straight into his own pocket, using it for some pretty high-risk investments like cryptocurrency. It’s a really disappointing story, especially for anyone who was excited about his potential next project.

Despite facing legal troubles, Rinsch somehow turned a profit and quickly began spending lavishly. According to court documents reported by The Hollywood Reporter, he bought five Rolls-Royces and a Ferrari worth $2.4 million, plus $3.8 million in furniture and antiques. He even purchased a $439,000 mattress! In total, Rinsch spent $10 million in a very short period.

In court, Rinsch’s lawyer explained that his client never intended to cheat Netflix. The lawyer argued, just as Rinsch testified, that he was simply spending money that belonged to him as he pleased.

After deliberation, the jury sided with the prosecution. According to Variety, Rinsch is scheduled to be sentenced on April 17th.

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2025-12-11 23:08