CLEVELAND -- A 5 On Your Side investigation revealed that a group raising millions of dollars for veterans, only gives them just 13 cents of every dollar donated.

Investigator Ron Regan uncovered who's getting rich off the donations that were supposed to be helping American veterans.

More than 1 million veterans, like Jim Bores, live in Ohio.

"It meant a whole lot. You had a very deep sense of duty. I want you to understand that," said Bores.

In return, Ohioans opened their hearts and their wallets to support veterans' charities. But a 5 On Your Side undercover investigation found that while millions of people think they are donating to a local charity, instead they are making some other people rich.

It all started with one call to a home from a call center doing business with the Disabled Veterans Associations in Parma Heights.

NewsChannel5 said it was not the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) who pride themselves on a 100-year track record of helping. This is the DVA –- Disabled Veterans Associations -– and tax returns show it raised $5 million in 2005. But $4,492,340 never reached veterans like Pat Hansen, Regan reported.

"Nobody has to be a genius to figure this out. That's appalling," said Hansen, a World War II veteran.

Regan said people like Michael Coley, the founder of the Disabled Veterans Associations, got the money.

Records revealed that Coley once paid himself $100,000 from donations. And at one time, he served six months in prison for selling unregistered securities and theft, Regan reported.

He said the charity Coley founded raised millions of dollars that never reached veterans.

Regan tracked Coley down on a golf course.

"Don't you think that's a little excessive to pay yourself a $100,000?" Regan asked.

Coley responded saying, "Not for the work I did, no."

But Regan reported that even after he left the Disabled Veterans Associations, Coley still profited off the donations.

Coley's ex-girlfriend, Pamela Seman, runs the charity now. Tax returns found in Regan's investigation showed a $14,000 donation from the Disabled Veterans Associations to Coley's new charity, conveniently located in an office just a few feet away.

"Do you think that's what donors think is going on here?" Regan asked. "Do you think that's right?"

"There's nothing wrong with that," Coley said.

"What did you use it for?" Regan asked.

"I paid myself. I hadn't been paid for a couple of months," Coley said.

Seman didn't want to talk to Regan about the money either.

"OK, this interview is over," Seman said.

"Why would you give $14,000 to your boyfriend’s charity?" Regan asked.

"I didn't give anything to my boyfriend's charity. I represented the organization, you can talk to Dawn who works with me here. I did not give my boyfriend anything," Seman said.

But the group that really makes the big money is Civic Development Group, Regan reported. CDG is a telemarketing firm located just south of New York City, and its founders own multimillion dollar homes in Florida and New Jersey.

Regan reported that the Disabled Veterans Associations in Parma Heights paid CDG almost every penny donated in fundraising fees.

But when 5 On Your Side went undercover at CDG's Canton call center, the station was told "100 percent goes to the Disabled Veterans Associations."

So Regan tried to get some questions answered on camera.

"We want to ask you a couple of questions about your fundraising," Regan said.

"We have no comments, we need you to leave the building," said representatives in Canton.

"How much money actually goes to veterans?" Regan asked.

"I need you to leave the building. Thank you. No comment," said the representatives.

"Is someone from Civic Development Group here we could speak with?" Regan asked.

"There is no Civic Development Group here. This is Disabled Veterans Association fundraising," they responded.

5 On Your Side traveled to the company's headquarters just outside New York City for answers.

“You'll have to leave," said a representative in Edison, N.J.

Meanwhile, disabled veterans are watching donations line the pockets of others.

Two veterans hospitals Regan contacted said they have no record of $8,000 in donations the charity claims it gave them.

The 5 On Your Side investigation also found that the telemarketer, Civic Development Group, also raises millions for cancer victims, firefighters and police officers -– and most of the money never reaches those who need the help.

NewsChannel5 wants to make this important distinction again, this is not related to the Disabled American Veterans. DAV never solicits on the phone and they do make sure your donations get to veterans.

For More Information:

• To donate check out dav.org and ohioveteranshome.gov.
• For the attorney general's guide to charitable giving, check out this site.
• For a full report on all charities in the state of Ohio, go to the Ohio AG site.
• For registered solicitors as of August 2007, check out this list.
• Contact the Attorney General Help Center (Charitable Organizations) here.
• To Research Charities, try the Federal Trade Commission, BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Watch, GuideStar and Charity Navigator.