The California attorney general has accused the founder and directors of a major veterans charity of misusing millions in private donations for lavish pensions and perks, the Associated Press reports.

In the lawsuit filed Thursday against Help Hospitalized Veterans, of Winchester, near Los Angeles, the attorney general says the charity's board retroactively spiked the earnings of the founder and former president, Roger Chapin, to justify his nearly $2 million annual pension after he retired in 2009. The organization also spent more than $80,000 on golf memberships for board members.

"The officers of Help Hospitalized Veterans improperly diverted money that hard-working and patriotic Americans donated to support injured vets," Attorney General Kamala Harris said in a news release spelling out the allegations. "We must protect veterans, active-duty military and donors from scam artists who see them as little more than prey for their financial frauds."

The charity, founded in 1971, says its primary mission is "to provide patients receiving care at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers, military hospitals and state veterans homes with therapeutic arts and crafts activities."

Since 2001, Help Hospitalized Veterans has reported more than $436 million in revenue, and ranks among the top 1% in money raised. The charity reported that during its 2011 fiscal year it spent 69.3% on "programs services," but Charity Watchdog claims HHV spends only 35% to help veterans. The industry norm is 65%.

Charity Navigator ranks it one star out of four stars. The Better Business Bureau's review of national charities states HHV does not meet standards.

No comment yet from Chapin, who is a veteran of the U.S. Army Finance Corps.; others named in the suit, or HHV lawyers.