By Newspot Nigeria Business Desk
A Manhattan federal jury has found Hollywood director Carl Rinsch guilty on all seven counts in a high-profile fraud case involving $11 million that Netflix provided for the production of his stalled sci-fi series, White Horse.
The verdict was delivered on Thursday after fewer than five hours of deliberation. Jurors filed into the courtroom with solemn expressions, while Rinsch—dressed in a purple-plaid tie and matching pocket square—kept his gaze fixed ahead as the foreman announced the unanimous decision. He now faces a maximum of 90 years in prison, though legal experts expect a much lighter sentence. His sentencing is set for April 17.
The government accused Rinsch, a protégé of Ridley Scott and director of 47 Ronin, of diverting Netflix’s funds to bankroll high-risk stock and cryptocurrency trades and purchase luxury items—including a $439,000 hand-made Hästens mattress and several Rolls-Royces insured in his personal name. Prosecutors said none of these expenditures were connected to the production of White Horse, a project that never produced a single episode despite shooting footage on two continents.
At trial, Rinsch insisted that he believed the $11 million was meant to reimburse him for expenses incurred when the production ran over budget in 2019. He argued that Netflix only expected “soft pre-production” for a potential second season, not full-scale production. His lawyers described the situation as a contractual misunderstanding rather than criminal intent.
Prosecutors disagreed, telling jurors that Rinsch fabricated the need for new funding and never planned to use the money for the series. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Markewitz laid out what he called “10 Ways You Know Carl Rinsch Is Guilty,” pointing to his speculative trades and extravagant purchases.
“In a TV show, a mattress is covered by sheets and a blanket,” Markewitz told jurors. “No one watching White Horse would ever know what’s under those linens.”
Following the verdict, U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said the case underscores the government’s commitment to holding individuals accountable when they misuse investor funds.
Rinsch did not comment as he left the courthouse, but his attorney, Benjamin Zeman, warned that the decision may set an unsettling precedent for artists locked in creative and financial disputes with major studios.
The White Horse project—imagined by Rinsch as a Star Wars– or Game of Thrones-scale franchise—was originally budgeted at $44 million, which he exceeded before requesting the additional $11 million that now anchors the conviction.
The case marks a dramatic fall from grace for the once-promising filmmaker, whose Hollywood career had already stalled before Netflix took a chance on his ambitious sci-fi vision.
Newspot Nigeria will continue to follow developments as sentencing approaches.
