“Trust Me, I Handled the Money”: Howell Title Boss Pleads Guilty in $4M Brooklyn Mortgage Racket
By The Garden State Gazette Staff
November 2, 2025
Some people move through life quietly. Others leave a trail of smoke, papers, and questions that make everyone around them wonder—how did no one see it coming? For Joshua Feldberger, Howell resident and former head of a Lakewood title company, that trail just led him straight into federal court.
Feldberger admitted to playing a role in a mortgage scheme that funneled millions of dollars through Brooklyn properties he never really owned. This wasn’t a solo act. The operation, stretching back to 2019–2020, involved Toms River locals Arthur Spitzer and Mendel Deutsch.
Brooklyn, $4 Million, and Some Very Fake Papers
Here’s the setup: Spitzer targeted New Jersey and Brooklyn properties with little or no liens. With forged documents and fake signatures, he convinced banks he owned assets he didn’t. Loan money poured into personal accounts. No property transfer. No real ownership. Just a paper trail that looked convincing… until it wasn’t.
The showstopper? Properties along Malcolm X Boulevard in Brooklyn. Prosecutors say Spitzer and Deutsch staged a fake transfer between themselves—and Feldberger, with his title expertise, made sure the paperwork looked real.
The “Bookkeeper” Moment
Feldberger’s company, Universal Abstract (now shuttered), prepared false records claiming Spitzer held ownership stakes. One employee even sent a letter to a lender claiming Deutsch had deposited escrow funds. Banks released $4 million.
In reality, the money didn’t buy a property—it shuffled between accounts. Around $100,000 allegedly ended up in a Feldberger family member’s hands, supposedly settling a debt with Spitzer.
Pandemic Loans, Personal Gain, Repeat
As if $4 million wasn’t enough, prosecutors allege Spitzer and Deutsch grabbed $3 million in federal COVID relief funds, intended for small businesses struggling during the pandemic—and used it for themselves.
Federal Court, Plea Deals, and What’s Next
The September 2024 indictment hit Feldberger with five counts: wire fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy, identity theft, and false statements. He pleaded guilty on October 22 to a single bank fraud conspiracy charge before Judge Edward Kiel in Camden federal court.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 2026. Maximum time? Thirty years. Reality? Plea deals usually bring a lot less. Feldberger claims he pocketed $21,000. Prosecutors say $100,000. Loss estimates? Anywhere from $3.5 million to under $9.5 million.
Why This Hits Home
This isn’t just a Brooklyn problem. New Jersey’s real estate market moves fast. Buyers and lenders need to check title chains, escrow flows, and ownership docs—because the “trust me, I’m the bookkeeper” line only works until someone actually investigates.
Feldberger’s case could be a warning shot. Settlement pros, title companies, and anyone handling money in this state? The feds are watching—and mistakes get expensive.