LOS ANGELES
A Woodland Hills film production accountant pleaded guilty Friday to siphoning nearly $2 million from independent movies that employed him, federal prosecutors said, using the stolen money to bankroll a lavish lifestyle that included payments to pornographic actresses, luxury shopping sprees, and nights out in Las Vegas.
Prosecutors said Joshua Mandel, 48, spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on young women, including pornographic actresses, more than $129,000 on a woman he met through a sugar-dating website, over $24,000 at Las Vegas hotels and clubs, and more than $12,000 on luxury items.
Mandel admitted to six counts of wire fraud.
U.S. District Judge John F. Walter scheduled sentencing for May 4. Mandel faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count. He remains free on a $25,000 bond.
According to court records, Mandel owned First J Productions Inc., a Woodland Hills-based company where he served as chief executive officer and chief financial officer. He also worked as a production accountant for independent films, overseeing payroll, expenses, and cash flow.
In that role, Mandel had authorized access to production company bank accounts and managed prepaid debit cards commonly used in the film industry.
From 2019 through 2023, prosecutors said Mandel wrote unauthorized checks, initiated improper wire transfers, and diverted funds into a CASHét Card account he controlled, labeled “Fun Fun Fun.” To conceal the scheme, he allegedly used money from one production to cover expenses from another.
Investigators estimate Mandel stole close to $2 million.
The FBI is investigating.