Joshua Mandel, 48, of Woodland Hills, pleaded guilty to six counts of wire fraud for embezzling nearly $2 million from independent film productions, federal prosecutors announced. Mandel operated his own company, First J Productions Inc., where he served as both CEO and chief financial officer while also providing accounting services to various independent films.

According to court documents, between 2019 and 2023, Mandel misappropriated funds by writing unauthorized checks, making unapproved wire transfers, and moving money into a CASHét Card account he controlled under the name “Fun Fun Fun.” Investigators say he also used money from one production to cover expenses for another to conceal the theft.

The filings detail Mandel’s spending of the stolen funds. Prosecutors said the money went toward payments totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars to multiple women, including pornographic actresses, more than $129,000 to a woman he met through a “sugar daddy” website, over $24,000 at Las Vegas hotels, clubs, and shows, and more than $12,000 on luxury items from Louis Vuitton.

Mandel is scheduled for sentencing on May 4 before United States District Judge John F. Walter, where he faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count. He remains free on a $25,000 bond while the FBI continues its investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander B. Schwab and Lauren E. Border.