Carl Erik Rinsch, $11M Fraud, New York 2026

A Los Angeles-based film and television writer and director has been convicted of a $11 million fraud scheme targeting a subscription video on-demand streaming service.

Carl Erik Rinsch, 48, of Los Angeles, California, was found guilty following a one-week trial before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 17, 2026.

According to the indictment, Rinsch reached an agreement with Streaming Company-1 in which the company would pay Rinsch for the existing episodes of White Horse and also fund completion of the rest of the show. Between 2018 and 2019, Streaming Company-1 paid approximately $44 million for White Horse.

However, Rinsch did not use the $11 million he received in 2020 to complete the show. Instead, he used the funds to make a number of personal and speculative purchases of securities, including 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.

Rinsch was convicted of one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and five counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy V. Capozzi, Jackie Delligatti, David A. Markewitz, Kevin Mead, and Adam Sowlati are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Maria Larracuente and William Coleman.

Rinsch faces up to 50 years in prison for his crimes, which include wire fraud, money laundering, and engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity.

Defendant: Carl Erik Rinsch

Criminal Charges: Wire fraud, money laundering, engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity

City and State: Los Angeles, California

Exact Date: Not specified

Sentence or Outcome: Convicted, faces up to 50 years in prison

Dollar Amounts: $11 million

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

White Collar Crime

Restrepo Cardona, Healthcare Fraud, Florida 2006

Jan 15, 2006

White Collar Crime

Catalan Peralta, Money Laundering, California 2013

Jan 15, 2013

White Collar Crime

John Coleman Carver III, Violating 33 U.S.C. 1311(a), North Carolina 2015

Aug 6, 2013

White Collar Crime

De-Jesus-Jj Reyes, Wire Fraud, Michigan 2011

Jan 15, 2011