Filmmaker Carl Erik Rinsch was arrested for defrauding Netflix out of $11 million in connection with a science fiction series he never completed. Netflix paid Rinsch’s company $44 million for the unproduced show “White Horse,” which was never finished. Rinsch used the funds for personal expenses, luxury items, and speculative investments, losing half of the money in less than two months.
Rinsch transferred the funds through various bank accounts before consolidating them in a personal brokerage account. He then used the money for personal expenses, luxury items, and speculative investments, including cryptocurrency. Rinsch never returned the fraudulently obtained funds, and Netflix reportedly canceled the show in early 2021. Rinsch is being charged with wire fraud, money laundering, and engaging in monetary transactions derived from unlawful activity.
Rinsch’s arrest comes after an arbitrator awarded Netflix $8.8 million in damages over arbitration initiated by Rinsch, who claimed the streaming giant breached their contract. Rita Miller, a former Los Angeles Superior Court judge, ruled that Rinsch’s purchases were not necessary for production. Netflix declined to comment on the situation, and it is unclear if Rinsch has legal representation.
