For years, James Matthew Godsey was trusted to handle the finances at Channel Islands Aviation in Ventura County. But prosecutors say that trust came at a steep cost.
A jury found Godsey, 44, of Camarillo, guilty of six felony counts of grand theft, determining that he exploited his position as the company’s bookkeeper to steal more than $527,000 over several years. The jury also upheld special allegations that his crimes caused losses exceeding $100,000 and involved a breach of trust, according to Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko.
From 2015 to 2023, Godsey managed payroll and accounts payable for the aviation company. Evidence presented at trial showed that between 2017 and 2023, he repeatedly inflated his own pay with unauthorized bonuses and extra wages. He also submitted fraudulent reimbursements for company expenses, effectively siphoning funds over a six-year period.
The scheme went unnoticed for years because company leaders trusted Godsey and did not closely review payroll records. The embezzlement was uncovered only after the business changed ownership and a new manager conducted a routine audit, revealing the irregularities.
“Employee embezzlement cases like this one are a reminder that trust without oversight creates opportunity for theft,” said Senior Deputy District Attorney Marc Leventhal, who prosecuted the case through the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Fraud and Technology Crimes Unit. “Employers should protect themselves by conducting regular internal audits and maintaining effective supervision over those who handle payroll and company funds.”
Godsey is scheduled to be sentenced on October 21, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. in the Ventura County Superior Court. He remains free on $10,000 bond pending sentencing.
The post California man convicted of embezzling over $500,000 from aviation company appeared first on KTLA.
