Keanu Reeves is calling for lenient punishment for 47 Ronin director Karl Rinsch, who is serving several years in prison for defrauding Netflix of $11 million.
In a letter to Judge Jed Rakoff, Reeves called the director an “extraordinary artist” and asked the judge to show “leniency and mercy” in sentencing.
Rinsch was convicted in December on federal charges of wire fraud, money laundering and illegal trafficking. Prosecutors alleged that he used Netflix funds meant to fund the sci-fi series “White Horse” to make lavish purchases, including a luxury car, a luxury mattress and investments in cryptocurrency.
Rinsch directed Reeves in “47 Ronin,” and the actor later served as a mentor and early investor in “The White Horse.” In his letter, Reeves acknowledged that he was neither a psychologist nor a therapist, but spoke of Rinsch’s motivations as an “art buddy.”
“In my opinion, Karl is able to self-destruct by expanding the size, scope, and circumstances of his negotiations and pitting himself against his opponent accordingly,” Reeves wrote. “I don’t share this as a disparagement of what he is known to have done, but I offer this only as an insight into perhaps why.”
Rinsch is scheduled to be sentenced on June 29th, and prosecutors are expected to make a sentencing recommendation by June 16th.
According to defense calculations, Rinsch faces eight to 10 years in prison under federal guidelines. But the defense argued that Rakoff should impose a much lower sentence, noting that Rinsch is a first-time offender and has already experienced “possibly the end of his career.”
The judge is expected to order Rinsch to pay $11 million in restitution to Netflix. Netflix is also seeking an additional $4.4 million in attorney fees incurred defending itself in the arbitration case filed by Rinsch and assisting federal prosecutors.
The defense claims that the attorney fees requested are excessive. Rinsch is considered “indigent” under the law and was represented at trial by a court-appointed attorney.
The defense presented letters on Rinsch’s behalf from Reeves, his mother, siblings and several childhood friends.
