“47 Ronin” Director Carl Rinsch Sentenced to 30 Months for $11 Million Production Fraud

Hollywood director Carl Erik Rinsch has been sentenced to 30 months in prison after stealing $11 million from a streaming company that had given him the funds to finish a science fiction series, according to the Department of Justice. Rinsch was convicted in December following a trial before U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff on wire fraud and money laundering charges.

Money Moved Through Accounts Before Failed Trades

The streaming service had already paid Rinsch roughly $44 million between 2018 and 2019 for the unfinished show “White Horse” before providing an additional $11 million in 2020. Instead of funding production, Rinsch transferred the money into a personal brokerage account for stock options trading, losing more than half of it within two months.

Crypto Speculation and Luxury Purchases Followed

With the remaining funds, Rinsch turned to crypto speculation alongside major personal spending, including multiple luxury vehicles, high-end furniture and a Swiss watch. A separate investigation previously reported he converted millions in Dogecoin into a far larger sum.

Sentence Includes Forfeiture and Supervised Release

Beyond prison time, Rinsch received three years of supervised release and was ordered to forfeit $11 million along with mandatory financial penalties.