New Jersey state officials are attempting to retrieve thousands of taxpayer dollars after the money was donated to an untrustworthy charity.

In 2007, the state gave $50,000 to the L.N. Forbes Foundation, named for the pastor who runs Faith Temple Church in Orange. The money was designated for a counseling program, which was commended by state Sen. Nia Gill.

It was only recently that officials discovered the charity does not involve Pastor Forbes, but is run by his brother, Melvin, who is a businessman in Maryland. According to a memo, the state treasurer's office believes Melvin Forbes used the donation money for a for-profit company he owned. Pastor Forbes and the Faith Temple Church had no comment and referred all calls about the matter to Melvin Forbes.

The tax returns for the charity show that one year it spent more than $86,000, but just over $14,500 of that money went to people in need.

Gill says she didn't research the foundation before recommending it receive funds.

"They filled out all of the necessary documentation," Gill says. "All I do is just suggest the charitable organization."

The state is currently trying to get the money back.