Story ID: 
Ex-Gulfstream Aerospace Exec Defrauded Company
By: David A. Lombardo
Caption: Caukin knowingly approved fictitious business invoices to defraud the company out of millions of dollars.
Word Count: 249
On January 16, Marvin J. Caukin of Calabasas, Calif., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John F. Walter to a federal conspiracy charge of committing mail fraud. Caukin and his co-conspirators created fictitious business invoices and submitted them to Gulfstream Aerospace, where Caukin would approve them in his capacity as the director of finance and accounting at the company's Long Beach facility, causing checks to be mailed to pay them. According to court records, beginning on or before 2001 and continuing through at least May 2013, there was an agreement between more than two people to commit mail fraud.

Caukin and his co-conspirators would receive the checks, typically at a rented commercial mailbox, deposit them and use the proceeds to pay for personal expenses. The co-conspirators defrauded Gulfstream Aerospace out of millions of dollars, of which Caukin used at least $2.4 million to pay for two California residences in Calabasas and Toluca Lake.

Before joining Gulfstream Aerospace, Caukin served 33 months in federal prison after being convicted in 1994 of stealing more than $2 million from USA Petroleum in Agoura Hills. About four months after his release from prison he applied to Gulfstream Aerospace. Caukin was terminated by Gulfstream Aerospace in 2013.

As part of his plea agreement, Caukin will forfeit the homes and about $70,000 in cash and cashier’s checks. Sentencing is set for May and Caukin faces a prison term of up to 20 years. A spokeswoman for Gulfstream declined to comment on the case.