Keanu Reeves is asking a federal judge to show leniency to his longtime friend and collaborator, director Carl Rinsch, who was convicted of swindling Netflix out of about $11 million. Multiple outlets report that Reeves wrote to Judge Jed Rakoff seeking “mercy” and a lighter sentence, despite not claiming detailed knowledge of the case’s specifics. Reeves describes Rinsch as an “exceptional artist,” and argues that Rinsch may not be acting in a consistently rational way, including references to the idea that he can “self-sabotage.”
According to reports, the conviction is tied to a show that prosecutors say never materialized, and Rinsch is also accused of spending or using the money on lavish purchases. Sources say Rinsch faces the possibility of years in prison, potentially more than a decade, as sentencing proceeds. The reports do not indicate Reeves is disputing the conviction; rather, they focus on his request for mitigation during sentencing.
