The Hollywood star writes a letter to federal court calling the filmmaker an “exceptional artist” while the director faces up to a decade in prison.
Keanu Reeves has stepped into a legal battle that does not directly involve him. He wrote a letter to a federal judge asking for a lighter sentence for Carl Rinsch, the director who worked with him on the 2013 movie 47 Ronin. Rinsch was found guilty last December of cheating Netflix out of $11 million.
The money was supposed to pay for a sci-fi series called White Horse. Instead, prosecutors said Rinsch used the cash to buy luxury cars, expensive mattresses, and cryptocurrency. He now faces between eight and ten years in prison. His sentencing is set for June 29 before Judge Jed Rakoff.
Reeves Explains the Director’s Behavior in Court Letter
Reeves submitted his letter on May 1 through Rinsch’s defense team. In the letter, the actor admitted he does not know all the details of the case. However, he wanted to share his thoughts as someone who has worked closely with the director.
“I do not know the details of this case,” Reeves wrote. “But based upon what I do know about Carl, I did want to take the opportunity to write on his behalf, in the hope that his sentence might be tempered with measures of leniency and mercy, as well as justice.”
Reeves called Rinsch an “exceptional artist.” He also said he saw early versions of the White Horse project and believed it was a “superb and visionary work of art” even though it was not finished.
The John Wick star tried to explain why Rinsch may have made the choices he did.
“In my opinion, Carl can self-sabotage by amplifying the scale, scope and landscape of what had been negotiated, accordingly placing himself and his counterparties at odds. I do not intend to share this as an excuse or diminishment of what he has been found to have done, but offer this solely as perhaps an insight into why.”
Reeves made it clear he is not a therapist or psychologist. He said he was writing only as a friend and an artistic peer.
How the Director Spent the Netflix Money
The case started back in 2018. Netflix agreed to fund Rinsch’s sci-fi series, which was about a scientist who creates a new species that fights back against humans. The streaming platform gave him about $44 million to make the show.
In 2020, Rinsch asked for another $11 million to finish the project. Netflix sent the money. But the show never got made. Prosecutors said Rinsch moved the $11 million into his personal accounts and went on a spending spree.
The purchases included:
- Several Rolls-Royces and a Ferrari
- About $1 million on mattresses and luxury bedding
- $652,000 on watches and clothes
- Paying off $1.8 million in credit card bills
He also put money into cryptocurrency and stock market bets. He lost about half of the $11 million in just a few months.
Netflix eventually canceled the project. A company spokesperson said, “After a lot of time and effort, it became clear that Mr. Rinsch was never going to complete the project he agreed to make, and so we wrote the project off.”
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The Director Faces Additional Legal and Financial Penalties
Rinsch was found guilty on multiple federal charges. These include wire fraud, money laundering, and illegal money transactions. His lawyers argue he should receive a lighter sentence because he is a first-time offender and his career is already destroyed.
The defense team also submitted letters from Rinsch’s mother, brother, and childhood friends asking for mercy.
Beyond the prison time, the judge will likely order Rinsch to repay the full $11 million to Netflix. The streaming company is also asking for an extra $4.4 million to cover legal fees from the arbitration process. Rinsch’s lawyers say this fee request is too high.
Prosecutors are set to give their sentencing recommendation to Judge Rakoff by June 16. After that, the court will decide on June 29 how many years Rinsch will spend behind bars.
Also Read: Nicolas Cage Legally Changes Name to ‘Nick Cage’ to Escape Being ‘Clown Cousin’ of Coppola Family
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