FBI adds bingo operator who embezzled US$10.7M to its most wanted
Michael Lizaso Marasigan, convicted in 2025 for money laundering and illegal gambling operations, fled to the Philippines after receiving a judicial permit for medical reasons. The scam used the 'Guam Shrine Club' as a front to raise US$34 million.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has raised the priority for capturing Michael Lizaso Marasigan, officially including him on its list of most wanted fugitives for white-collar crimes. The operator, a dual US and Filipino citizen, was the mastermind behind an illegal bingo scheme that promised to allocate its profits to the Shriners Hospital for Children in Hawaii, but in reality operated as a money laundering scheme for personal enrichment.
In May 2025, a federal jury found Marasigan guilty of multiple charges, including operating an illegal gambling business (violation of Title 18, Section 1955 of the U.S. Code), conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and money laundering. However, the convict took advantage of a humanitarian judicial permit to travel to the Philippines for alleged medical treatment and did not return by the stipulated date in June 2025, cutting all communication with his probation officer.
The "Hafa Adai Bingo" Scam
The investigation, which included key testimony from special agents of the IRS (Internal Revenue Service), dismantled the operation known as "Hafa Adai Bingo." Over six years, this scheme generated gross revenues of at least US$34 million.
According to the prosecution, under the guise of a regulated charitable activity of the Guam Shrine Club, Marasigan and his co-conspirators — the married couple Christine and Jose Arthur "Art" Chan Jr. — systematically diverted funds. After deducting prize payments and operational expenses, the scam yielded a net profit of US$10.9 million, the vast majority of which ended up in the pockets of the accused rather than helping sick children.
Asset Forfeiture and Failed Legal Maneuvers
The Guam District Court has initiated asset forfeiture proceedings. In a hearing held in November 2025, the government requested the seizure of approximately US$7 million, broken down into US$5.6 million belonging to Marasigan and the remainder to the Chan couple.
During the trial, the defense unsuccessfully attempted to dismiss the case alleging "jury misconduct" due to a thank-you card that the jury members sent to the judge after deliberations concluded. Defense attorneys argued that the use of the word "eternity" in the note suggested the jury had prejudged the case prematurely. The judge dismissed the motion as harmless.
A High-Risk Criminal Profile
Marasigan’s inclusion on the FBI’s red list places him in a criminal category similar to other notorious fugitives from the financial and gambling sectors, such as Ruja Ignatova (the "Cryptoqueen" of OneCoin) or the former Macau junket executive, Cheung Chi Tai.
This case highlights the vulnerability of the Charitable Gaming sector in the United States, a niche that, although often subject to more lenient regulations than commercial casinos, is under strict federal scrutiny when crossing state or international boundaries. U.S. authorities are now working with their counterparts in Asia to achieve Marasigan’s extradition and close one of the most embarrassing chapters of charitable fraud in the recent history of Pacific gaming.
Tags: United States, USA, FBI, United States bingo, Guam Shrine Club, Michael Lizaso Marasigan