Monday’s sentencing comes after the 48-year-old was convicted on multiple federal charges in December, which included wire fraud and money laundering.
According to prosecutors, the streaming giant originally invested $44 million into production between 2018 and 2019, and sent an additional $11 million at Rinsch’s request to complete the long-delayed project titled “White Horse.”
The funds were used to make lavish purchases on items that included luxury vehicles, designer goods, and approximately $1 million in mattresses and luxury bedding. Rinsch also made cryptocurrency investments, earning a profit before depositing money into his personal accounts.
The show, which began filming around 2016, centers around developing technology, such as superintelligent clones coming in contact with humans, and was originally funded by two separate media companies prior to Netflix.
Six short-form episodes were completed at the time; however, the remainder of the television series, as well as the funds provided, were never returned to the company.
During his sentencing hearing, Rinsch acknowledged his behavior, with his defense team pointing to mental health struggles, arguing it clouded his judgment.
“This process has forced me to confront things about my health, my judgment and my life,” Rinsch told the court on Monday, before publicly apologizing for his actions. ”Real harm was caused. I failed to recognize the danger of the state I was in.”
The presiding U.S. District Judge, Jed S. Rakoff, recognized his issues but concluded it did not excuse what the court described as a deliberate and sustained scheme to misuse funds entrusted for a major television production.
“Mr. Rinsch had every possible advantage,” said prosecutor David Markewitz, before adding that his motive stemmed from “naked greed.”
Best known for directing the 2013 fantasy film “47 Ronin” starring Keanu Reeves, Rinsch received support from the actor who wrote a letter to the court requesting leniency ahead of sentencing.
“[Rinsch] brings exceptional joy and warmth to the people around him, and creative inspiration to others through his creativity and vision,” wrote Reeves, adding that he hopes the sentence ”might be tempered with measures of leniency and mercy as well as justice.”
Rinsch is ordered to repay the $11 million involved in the fraud and will also serve a period of supervised release after completing his sentence. Attorneys for the director indicated that he intends to appeal the sentence.
The Epoch Times has contacted Netflix for further comment on the matter but has not heard back by the time of publication.
