Keanu Reeves Urges Leniency for Carl Rinsch as Director Faces Up to 121 Months

11 articles · Updated · NBC News · May 28

A letter filed Tuesday asked U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff to show mercy to Carl Rinsch, with Reeves calling punishment tempered by leniency “a healing act.”
Rinsch, 48, was convicted in December of wire fraud, money laundering and illegal transactions after prosecutors said he diverted $11 million from Netflix for a sci-fi series that was never completed.
Prosecutors said the money went to a Ferrari, multiple Rolls-Royces, $652,000 in watches and clothing, $3.787 million in furniture and antiques, plus cryptocurrency and personal accounts.
Netflix had already paid Rinsch $44 million for “White Horse” before sending the extra $11 million he said he needed to finish production; he is expected to repay that amount, and Netflix is seeking another $4.4 million in legal fees.
Reeves, who worked with Rinsch on 2011 film “47 Ronin,” said he had seen an unfinished “White Horse” and described Rinsch as gifted but prone to self-sabotage ahead of sentencing on June 29.

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