A US judge has been asked to show leniency towards a filmmaker accused of scamming Netflix out of $11m. Keanu Reeves, a close friend of the accused director, has written a letter to the judge in a bid to secure a lighter sentence.
The accused director, whose name has not been released to the public, has been charged with wire fraud and money laundering in connection with the scam. According to court documents, the director allegedly convinced Netflix executives to invest in a fake streaming service, which was supposed to be a competitor to the company's own platform.
The scam is believed to have taken place between 2019 and 2021, during which time the director allegedly siphoned off $11m from Netflix. If convicted, the director could face up to 20 years in prison.
Keanu Reeves' letter to the judge is the latest development in a high-profile case that has sparked widespread attention in the film industry. The accused director has a reputation as a respected filmmaker, having worked on a number of high-profile projects in the past.
The case has also raised questions about the security measures in place at Netflix, with some industry insiders suggesting that the company may have been too trusting of the accused director.
The outcome of the case is likely to be closely watched by the film industry, with many hoping for a lenient sentence. In the meantime, Netflix has declined to comment on the case.