For those of us in private aviation brokerage, the recent lawsuits against Charter Flight Group, Jet Genius Holdings, and Jordan Brown are a stark reminder of the industry's biggest problem: unchecked fraud. Private aviation runs on trust—clients pay a premium for reliability, operators rely on brokers to deliver, and brokers depend on honest players to keep the wheels turning. When companies prioritize short-term cash grabs over integrity, they poison the well for everyone. And yet, time and again, these bad actors keep popping up, hopping from one entity to another, screwing customers, stiffing operators, and walking away without consequence.
The latest lawsuit, filed on February 28, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, lays out a textbook scam. Charter Flight Group (FlyCFG) and its CEO are accused of taking nearly $89,000 from a client for a flight that never happened—no service, no refund. The lawsuit, filed by Frederic Gautier-Winther, seeks over $276,000 in damages, exposing just how deep the deception runs.
A Pattern of Deception
This isn’t some one-off mistake. Charter Flight Group has a long track record of financial shadiness. A lawsuit last May revealed they took $630,785 for a Tel Aviv to Newark charter, only to deliver nothing. The client, after months of chasing, got a partial refund—just $205,785—while the remaining $425,000 vanished into the ether. Even with written confirmation that the full refund was owed, CFG simply refused to pay.
Operators aren’t spared either. Capital Jets, which operated a Learjet 60 for CFG’s customers, had to sue after their payment was declined. The court ultimately awarded them a default judgment for $17,200. Meanwhile, a former business partner, Aaron “Angel” Stanz, has accused CFG’s Jordan Brown of using shell companies to dodge financial obligations, including millions in unpaid federal excise taxes.
It’s a predictable cycle: a company scams enough people, lawsuits pile up, and then they just rebrand, form a new LLC, and do it all over again. Nothing stops them because the industry has no memory.
A Public Blacklist—The Industry’s Only Real Defense
The problem isn’t a lack of regulations. We don’t need more FAA rules or another government agency to “step in.” The problem is that the industry operates in silos—no central record of bad actors, no warning system, no real accountability outside of individual lawsuits. The solution isn’t regulation; it’s information.
Imagine a public blacklist—a database where brokers, operators, and even clients could see, in black and white, which companies have been sued, who has outstanding judgments against them, and which brokers have a history of unresolved complaints. Getting on the list wouldn’t be arbitrary—it would require court-filed lawsuits or multiple verified complaints from operators or clients. No rumors, no hearsay, just verifiable legal and financial records.
Such a system would change the game overnight. Brokers wouldn’t accidentally book flights through scam companies. Operators could check a broker’s payment history before accepting a trip. Clients could see if a brokerage has a pattern of taking deposits and not delivering.
Most importantly, it would make rebranding and resurfacing harder. Right now, fraudsters shut down one LLC, start another, and act like nothing happened. But if every new company they form is automatically tied to past lawsuits and complaints, their ability to con fresh victims disappears.
How It Could Work
Public, Searchable Database – A simple website where lawsuits, judgments, and unresolved complaints are logged.
Verified Information Only – No anonymous claims. Entries require a court case, a judgment, or a formal operator/client complaint with documentation.
Industry-Wide Access – Brokers, operators, and even clients can check before they engage with a company.
Automatic Cross-Referencing – New LLCs and DBAs get flagged if they’re tied to known bad actors.
No More Excuses
Right now, bad actors thrive because no one talks. Operators eat losses because chasing payments costs more than it's worth. Brokers assume every company is legitimate until they learn the hard way. Clients get scammed and then disappear, never to book private again. A blacklist would end the silence, cutting off the oxygen supply to these fraudsters.
The best part? This doesn’t require government intervention. No need for regulators, lobbyists, or bureaucratic nonsense. It’s just information—shared, organized, and made available to the people who need it most.
The industry’s survival depends on trust. If we don’t start keeping track of the bad actors, they’ll keep coming back. It’s time to stop letting them.
Some hypotheticals solutions
Mandatory Industry Accreditation
Implement a mandatory accreditation system where companies must meet specific operational, financial, and ethical standards to be recognized in the industry. Accreditations could be tied to verified operating records, insurance coverage, financial solvency, and transparency of business practices. Operators and brokers could check an accreditation status before doing business with any company.
Blockchain-Verified Contracts
Utilizing blockchain technology could offer a decentralized, tamper-proof way to track all contracts, transactions, and flight details. This would ensure transparency and accountability. If an operator or broker engages with a fraudulent company, the blockchain record could help identify red flags, such as unpaid invoices or failed flights, and protect against future scams.
Enhanced Broker and Operator Vetting
Brokers could be required to conduct more thorough vetting of operators before booking flights. This could include checking financial histories, client reviews, and legal filings. Using third-party platforms that specialize in verification could help standardize this process across the industry. Brokers could also be incentivized to perform due diligence through certification programs that highlight trustworthy brokers.
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