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Keanu Reeves writes to a judge asking for 'mercy' for director convicted of massive Netflix fraud

Reeves shared a letter for a judge in New York, defending his friend

Keanu Reeves attends the John Wick special screenings at Ham Yard Hotel on May 03, 2019 in London, England.

MAY 28, 2026 4:29 PM EDTMAY 28, 2026, 4:29 PM EDT

Keanu Reeves is standing by former director Carl Rinsch. The Canadian actor is asking a judge to reduce the sentence for Rinsch, who was found guilty of taking $11 million from Netflix and using the money to produce a TV series for personal use.

Keanu Reeves at the premiere of 'Sonic The Hedgehog 3' — Keanu Reeves is standing up for his friend

Rinsch was charged in March of last year, with a judge finding him guilty of one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. He and Reeves worked together in the film "47 Ronin."

"I am writing in support of Carl Rinsch in connection with his upcoming sentencing. I do not know the details of this case. But based upon what I do know about Carl, I did want to take the opportunity to write on his behalf, in the hope that his sentence might be tempered with measures of leniency and mercy as well as justice," reads Reeves' letter, obtained by PEOPLE.

They are partners and collaborators — Reeves wrote a letter to a judge in New York

In his letter, Reeves opened up about his friendship with Rinsch, with him attending his wedding, and the two sharing a creative partnership that included Rinsch sharing an unfinished version of the TV show "White Horse," which was the program Netflix hired Rinsch to complete.

Reeves and Rinsch's close friendship

"In my opinion, Carl is an exceptional artist, and White Horse, in the form in which I saw it, was a superb and visionary work of art, although unfinished," continued Reeves. "I am, of course, not a therapist or psychologist. I write instead as an artistic peer of Carl's, and as a friend. In my opinion, Carl can self-sabotage by amplifying the scale, scope and landscape of what had been negotiated, accordingly placing himself and his counterparties at odds."

Following Rinsch's conviction, the New York Attorney's Office said that Rinsch had used the money given to him by Netflix to pursue various personal endeavors, among them speculating on cryptocurrency and purchasing various luxury items, including a Swiss watch, five Rolls-Royces, and a Ferrari.

It was previously reported that Rinsch experienced a mental health crisis during the production of "White Horse," with his family and friends staging an intervention in his home in Los Angeles in 2019. Reeves was in attendance.