A US filmmaker, Carl Erik Rinsch, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison after being convicted of defrauding Netflix out of millions of dollars meant to fund a science fiction television project.

The 48-year-old director, best known for the 2013 action film 47 Ronin, was found guilty of federal fraud and money laundering charges. Prosecutors said Rinsch misused funds provided by Netflix for a planned sci-fi series, instead diverting large sums for personal use.

According to court proceedings, Netflix had invested approximately $55 million into the project, which was initially titled White Horse. Of that amount, $11 million was allegedly requested by Rinsch under the claim that it was necessary to complete production. However, prosecutors argued that the money was transferred into a personal account and later used for speculative investments and luxury purchases.

Investigators said Rinsch spent portions of the funds on high-end items including luxury vehicles, expensive furnishings, and cryptocurrency investments. A significant amount was reportedly lost within a short period after being placed into volatile markets.

During his trial in New York, several Netflix executives testified that the company had only agreed to fund a single season of the series, which was never delivered. Rinsch also took the stand in his own defence, stating that there had been a misunderstanding and that he believed the funding was intended to sustain ongoing production during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite facing a potential sentence of up to 90 years, the court handed down a more lenient punishment of 30 months in prison, along with three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to forfeit $11 million and pay a $700 fine.

Before sentencing, Rinsch expressed remorse and accepted responsibility for his actions. Prosecutors described the ruling as a strong warning against financial misconduct in the entertainment industry.

Authorities said the case highlights concerns over accountability in high-budget streaming productions, where large sums are often allocated to ambitious projects with limited oversight.

Story by: Andre Mustapha Nii Okai Inusah
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