By Redacción
Redaccion@latinocc.com
A Ventura County jury convicted a Camarillo man of stealing more than half a million dollars from his longtime employer, Channel Islands Aviation, in a case prosecutors say underscores the importance of oversight and accountability in the workplace.
James Matthew Godsey, 46, was found guilty on six felony counts of grand theft after a three-week trial. Jurors also affirmed several special allegations, including that Godsey caused an excessive loss of more than $100,000 and that he exploited a position of trust to commit his crimes.
According to evidence presented in court, Godsey worked for Channel Islands Aviation as a bookkeeper from 2015 to 2023, handling payroll and accounts payable. From 2017 to 2023, he repeatedly inflated his own compensation by inserting unauthorized bonuses and wages into payroll records, while also generating phony reimbursements for supposed business expenses.
In total, prosecutors said, he siphoned more than $527,000 from the company over a six-year span.
How the scheme stayed hidden
The theft went unnoticed for years largely because of the trust company executives placed in Godsey. As the sole bookkeeper, he was entrusted with processing payroll without close supervision. Prosecutors said this lack of oversight allowed him to manipulate financial records without detection.
The embezzlement came to light only after Channel Islands Aviation was sold and new management initiated a comprehensive audit. That review uncovered irregularities in payroll and reimbursement records, eventually exposing the scale of the theft.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Marc Leventhal of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Special Prosecutions Fraud and Technology Crimes Unit prosecuted the case. In a statement, Leventhal emphasized the broader lesson for employers.
“Employee embezzlement cases like this one are a reminder that trust without oversight creates opportunity for theft,” he said. “Employers should protect themselves by conducting regular internal audits and maintaining effective supervision over those who handle payroll and company funds.”
Court documents showed that Godsey used his position to repeatedly approve fraudulent payments to himself, covering his tracks through falsified records. Over time, the theft drained significant company resources, leaving owners and employees shocked when the scheme was revealed.
Sentencing and broader implications
Godsey is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 21, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. in Courtroom 24 of the Ventura County Superior Court. He remains free on $10,000 bond pending sentencing. He faces the possibility of substantial prison time, along with restitution to his former employer.
Cases of workplace embezzlement are not uncommon, particularly in small and mid-sized businesses where a single employee may control multiple aspects of financial operations. According to national studies on occupational fraud, schemes involving payroll manipulation and false reimbursements are among the most frequent methods of employee theft.
Experts note that the damage caused by such schemes often extends beyond financial loss. Companies may suffer reputational harm, reduced employee morale, and strained client relationships. In the aviation industry, where precision and trust are central to operations, the betrayal of confidence can have lasting consequences.
In Ventura County, prosecutors have increasingly highlighted the importance of specialized units to investigate and prosecute fraud and technology crimes. Leventhal’s unit focuses on complex financial misconduct, cybercrime, and cases requiring forensic accounting.
“This verdict sends a clear message that individuals who abuse positions of trust for personal gain will be held accountable,” District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said in a press release. “We are committed to protecting businesses and ensuring that fraud does not go unchecked in our community.”
For employers, the Godsey case serves as a reminder that robust internal controls are essential. Fraud prevention experts recommend conducting surprise audits of payroll and expense accounts, separating financial duties so no single employee has unchecked control, using independent auditors to verify company accounts and creating confidential channels for employees to report suspicious activity.
In many cases, embezzlement is uncovered not by chance but by systematic review of financial records. Channel Islands Aviation’s new management, in conducting such an audit, was able to expose years of hidden theft.
As the aviation company moves forward under new ownership, the case also highlights how organizations can rebuild trust after fraud. Transparency with employees, strengthening oversight and implementing stronger safeguards are key to restoring confidence.
The sentencing hearing in October will determine Godsey’s punishment, but for many in Ventura County’s business community, the case already stands as a cautionary tale. It demonstrates how a trusted employee, left unchecked, can cause severe financial and reputational harm — and how vigilance is necessary to prevent history from repeating itself.
