Hollywood director Carl Rinsch has received a sentence of two and a half years in prison after being convicted of defrauding Netflix.

The 48-year-old, known for his work on the 2013 film *47 Ronin*, was found guilty of federal fraud and money laundering charges related to the misuse of funds provided by the streaming giant.

Prosecutors detailed that Netflix had allocated approximately $55 million to Rinsch for an unfinished science fiction series, initially titled *White Horse*.

Of this amount, $11 million was specifically designated to complete production.

However, Rinsch allegedly diverted these funds into a personal account, where he invested in cryptocurrency and made lavish purchases, including Rolls Royce cars and expensive mattresses.

Prosecutors noted that he lost half of the invested money within a few months.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Jay Rakoff sentenced Rinsch to three years of supervised release, ordered $11 million in forfeitures, and imposed a $700 fine.

This development is significant as it underscores the legal consequences for financial misconduct in major entertainment productions.

During his trial in New York, Rinsch took the stand, a rare move for a defendant in such a case.

He claimed the situation was a misunderstanding, asserting that he believed the funds were intended to sustain the show's production during the pandemic.

However, prosecutors presented evidence suggesting otherwise.

Netflix executives also testified, confirming they had only agreed to one season of the series, which Rinsch ultimately failed to deliver.

Before the sentencing, Rinsch apologized to the court and accepted responsibility for his actions.

US Attorney Jay Clayton commented on the outcome, stating, "Today's sentence sends a deterrent message: Fraud will not be tolerated."