Association for Firefighters and Paramedics partied with donations, California AG says

Some people thought they were helping burn victims when they gave money to the Association for Firefighters and Paramedics. Instead, the charity was spending those contributions on out-of-town trips and lavish resorts, the California Attorney General said.

The state announced a settlement this week with the Santa Ana, Calif.,-based organization that it says used deceptive fundraising tactics and misrepresented how it spent money from donors. The state accused its members of mailing invoices for pledges never made and diverting $33,000 to pay for board meetings in San Diego and Las Vegas, as well as a Caribbean cruise for board members and their families. The group's website says there is a new site coming soon and asks you to subscribe to e-mail updates "to learn even more about what we do and those we've helped."