PORTLAND (AP) — Court records indicate that the founder of a Maine charity that provided holiday gifts to the children of military families was under investigation for fraud when he committed suicide last month.

The records unsealed in U.S. District Court in Portland show that the federal investigation that started in July focused on whether Marcel Badeau, chairman of the Gorham-based nonprofit Operation Tribute, used hundreds of thousands of dollars raised by the charity for personal expenses.

The Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/1I4lAYR ) reported that filings indicate Badeau and his wife used donated money for personal needs, including more than $230,000 in cash, $138,000 in mortgage payments, more than $25,000 for personal cars, nearly $24,000 for one of their children’s college tuition, and more than $7,000 at liquor stores.

The Badeaus attorney refused comment.