Bookkeeper Stole $500K From Channel Islands Aviation
A longtime bookkeeper at Channel Islands Aviation, a California-based charter carrier, has been convicted of embezzling more than half a million dollars from the company over a six-year period.
James Matthew Godsey, 46, was found guilty on September 29 of six felony counts of grand theft by a Ventura County Superior Court jury. Prosecutors said the jury also confirmed special allegations that Godsey caused losses exceeding $100,000 and abused a position of trust.
Godsey worked as an accountant for Channel Islands Aviation from 2015 until 2023, managing payroll and accounts payable. Between 2017 and 2023, he manipulated records to inflate his wages, creating unauthorized bonuses and falsified reimbursements. In total, prosecutors said he siphoned about $527,000 from the company.
The theft went undetected for years because company leadership relied heavily on Godsey’s role and did not closely review payroll records. The scheme came to light only after the company changed ownership, when a new manager conducted an internal audit and uncovered the fraudulent payments.
“Employee embezzlement cases like this show that trust without oversight creates opportunities for theft,” said Senior Deputy District Attorney Marc Leventhal, who prosecuted the case. He advised employers to conduct routine audits and closely monitor payroll and financial processes.
Godsey was released on $10,000 bail while awaiting sentencing, which is scheduled for October 21.
Channel Islands Aviation, based in Camarillo, currently holds a Part 135 certificate with a single Cirrus SR-20 on its charter operations roster, according to federal records.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com