Director Carl Erik Rinsch was sentenced on June 29, 2026, after a jury convicted him of all seven counts in a $11 million fraud case involving White Horse, a planned science-fiction series for Netflix. The March 2025 announcement was the initial charge; the case later resulted in a conviction and prison sentence.
What happened in the case?
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) described the streaming service in its releases as “Streaming Company-1”; the service is identified as Netflix in the case’s public coverage. DOJ said the company paid approximately $44 million between 2018 and 2019 for existing episodes of White Horse and to fund completion of the planned series. In late 2019 and early 2020, Rinsch sought additional funding. DOJ said the service agreed to provide another $11 million, transferred to a company he controlled on or about March 6, 2020, for the purpose of completing the show. (DOJ charging announcement, March 18, 2025; DOJ conviction announcement, December 11, 2025)
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From charge to conviction and sentence
- March 18, 2025: Prosecutors announced an unsealed seven-count indictment and Rinsch’s arrest. At that stage, the claims were allegations, and DOJ stated that he was presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
- December 11, 2025: A jury found Rinsch guilty on all seven counts after a one-week trial. DOJ’s post-verdict account described evidence presented at trial about how the additional funds were used.
- June 29, 2026: Judge Jed S. Rakoff sentenced Rinsch to 30 months in prison, three years of supervised release, $11 million in forfeiture, and $700 in mandatory special assessments. (DOJ sentencing announcement)
What happened to the $11 million?
According to DOJ’s summary of trial evidence, Rinsch moved the money through multiple bank accounts into a personal brokerage account and used it for speculative securities trading. He lost more than half of the funds in less than two months. DOJ said he then used remaining money for cryptocurrency speculation and personal expenses. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said after the conviction: “Carl Erik Rinsch took $11 million meant for a TV show and gambled it on speculative stock options and crypto transactions.” (DOJ conviction announcement, December 11, 2025)
DOJ’s December 2025 release said trial evidence showed spending that included at least $1.7 million on credit-card bills, at least $3.3 million on furniture, antiques, and mattresses, at least $387,000 on a Swiss watch, and at least $2.4 million on five Rolls-Royces and a red Ferrari. These are categories and amounts summarized in that post-verdict release, not a complete accounting of every transaction.
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What was White Horse, and can you watch it?
White Horse was a planned science-fiction television series that was partially completed, according to DOJ. The releases say the additional $11 million was intended to complete it. They do not establish that the series was finished, released, or made available to stream or buy, so there is no confirmed viewing or purchase option to point to.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Who is Carl Erik Rinsch?
Rinsch is a director and writer described in DOJ’s announcements as being from Los Angeles. The federal case concerned funds provided to finish White Horse and the jury’s finding that he committed fraud in connection with that production funding.
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