A former accountant of Channel Islands Aviation (CHN, Camarillo) has been convicted of stealing around USD527,000 from the California-based charter carrier over a period of six years, abusing his position of trust to commit the crimes according to prosecutors.
James Matthew Godsey, 46, was found guilty on September 29 on six felony counts of grand theft following a jury trial at Ventura County Superior Court. The jury also upheld special allegations that he caused losses exceeding USD100,000 and exploited a position of trust, Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said in a statement.
Godsey worked as a bookkeeper for Channel Islands Aviation from 2015 to 2023, handling payroll and accounts payable. Evidence showed he repeatedly inflated his wages with unauthorised bonuses and fabricated reimbursements between 2017 and 2023.
For years, the theft remained hidden because company leadership trusted him to perform his duties honestly and did not scrutinise his payroll records. The scheme was uncovered only after the company was sold and a new manager audited the records.
"Employee embezzlement cases like this one are a reminder that trust without oversight creates opportunity for theft. Employers should protect themselves by conducting regular internal audits and maintaining effective supervision over those who handle payroll and company funds," said Senior Deputy District Attorney Marc Leventhal, who prosecuted the case.
Godsey received bail of USD10,000 pending sentencing scheduled for October 21.
ch-aviation has contacted the operator, which had a single Cirrus SR-20 on its FAA Part 135 certificate as of July 2025, for comment.
