Published on: January 30, 2026, at 11:23 AM.
Updated on: January 30, 2026, at 11:23 AM.
- Convicted bingo operator disappears before sentencing following extensive Guam charity fraud
- FBI reports fake bingo operation generated $34 million, none benefiting sick children
- Marasigan escaped to the Philippines after being found guilty of fraud
A convicted bingo operator has made his way onto the FBI’s Most Wanted list after evading sentencing related to fraud, money laundering, and illegal gambling charges.
Michael Marasigan, who holds dual citizenship in the US and the Philippines, was convicted in May 2025 by the US District Court in Guam, a US territory in the Pacific renowned for its military installation.
Alongside two accomplices, Jose and Christine Chan, Marasigan set up a bingo operation claiming to raise funds for the Guam Shrine Club, a non-profit aimed at transporting sick children to Shriners Hospitals in Hawaii for necessary medical treatment.
While gambling is largely restricted in Guam, certain organizations are permitted to conduct bingo games if the net proceeds are allocated solely for authorized charitable causes.
Exploiting Vulnerable Children
However, Marasigan and his co-defendants diverted these funds for personal gain. From March 2015 to December 31, 2021, they misappropriated resources, using the organization’s nonprofit status and bingo permits as a facade while running an illegal gambling enterprise, as revealed in a federal indictment made public in May 2023.
According to prosecutors, none of the $34 million raised went towards the children or the Shriners Hospital; approximately $10.7 million was misappropriated for personal expenditure by Marasigan and his accomplices.
Marasigan owned ‘Ideal Ventures,’ the entity managing the bingo hall named “Hafa Adai Bingo,” located at the Guam Shrine Club. He was also convicted of money laundering related to these funds.
Christine Chan, a prominent figure at the club, was purportedly instrumental in providing the fraudulent non-profit cover, whereas Jose Arthur “Art” Chan was accused of facilitating the siphoning of funds through recurring payments made to disguise them as fees or profit sharing.
Marasigan Flees the Scene
Alongside Marasigan, the Chans were also convicted and were set to be sentenced last November; however, Marasigan absconded. He was granted permission to visit the Philippines for medical purposes but neglected to return by the designated deadline, severing all contact in June 2025.
Now facing charges for violating his pretrial release conditions, Marasigan is deemed a fugitive, as per his FBI Most Wanted profile. Authorities currently have no knowledge of his location, but it is believed he may be hiding in the Philippines, where he possesses a valid passport.