A former airline employee was sentenced yesterday to 16 months in federal prison for participating in a scheme to defraud three major airlines, resulting in total revenue losses of over $600,000.  

Chaculvin Hayes, 37, of Jacksonville, Florida, was sentenced by United States District Judge John F. Walter, who also ordered him to pay $602,886.18 in restitution. 

Hayes pleaded guilty in June 2026 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  

According to his plea agreement, Hayes and co-conspirators participated in a scheme to fraudulently upgrade tickets, alter bookings, and issue travel vouchers, causing more than $600,000 in losses to three major airlines.  

During the period between January 2017 and December 2019, Hayes and his co-conspirators worked for GAT Airline Ground Support, a contractor that provided ticketing and ground support services at Hollywood Burbank Airport and other locations. Through their job, the group had access to airline reservation systems for United and Delta and could also book American flights through airline agreements.  

Hayes and his co-conspirators exploited a ticketing accommodation process known as "waivers and favors," which is intended to allow authorized customer service employees to make special booking changes when necessary. During the scheme, Hayes used his access to upgrade tickets (for example, from economy to first class) without charging the proper fees; change travel dates and itineraries without required fees; and create unauthorized Electronic Travel Coupons (ETCs) that could be used like vouchers. 

Hayes admitted using an alias, "Neeve Andrews," to sell heavily discounted airline tickets obtained through fraudulent reservation modifications and accepted payments from customers. Hayes also admitted to using his employee credentials to modify hundreds of Passenger Name Records (PNRs) and issue dozens of unauthorized vouchers.   

Through hundreds of PNR modifications and through the issuance of fraudulent ETC vouchers, Hayes and his co-conspirators caused combined losses totaling approximately $602,886.18. 

The FBI investigated this matter. 

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Elbogen of the Major Crimes Section for the Central District of California.