Hollywood Director Convicted of Fraud in Netflix Crypto Gambling Case
Carl Erik Rinsch, the director behind 2013's '47 Ronin,' faces up to 20 years in prison after a New York federal jury convicted him of wire fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors proved he diverted $11 million of Netflix's production budget for a sci-fi series into reckless crypto trading and stock options.
The U.S. Attorney's Office revealed Rinsch's illicit transactions included cryptocurrency investments, though specific coins weren't disclosed. His defense warned the verdict could chill creative industries, framing the case as a contractual dispute gone criminal.
Sentencing is set for April 2026, with additional convictions on five counts of unlawful monetary transactions carrying potential decade-long penalties per charge. The case highlights growing scrutiny of crypto's role in financial crimes within entertainment financing.
