Overview
- A Manhattan jury found Carl Rinsch guilty last December of wire fraud, money laundering, and related counts for taking $11 million from Netflix to fund the unfinished sci‑fi series White Horse.
- Rinsch’s legal team filed a sentencing memorandum in late May that includes character letters from Keanu Reeves, family and friends and argues he is indigent and has effectively lost his career.
- Portions of the defense filing, including parts of Reeves’ letter and health records, are redacted and court filings indicate the defense plans to press psychological or health mitigation at sentencing.
- Federal prosecutors are set to file their sentencing recommendation by June 16 and Judge Jed Rakoff will sentence Rinsch on June 29, when the court is also expected to order roughly $11 million in restitution.
- Netflix has already written off more than $55 million on the unfinished show and won a 2024 arbitration award of about $12 million that remains unpaid, and the company is seeking additional legal fees in court.