The Manila Times

Fil-Am lands on FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters list

GUAM — A Filipino-American fugitive convicted in a $34-million bingo fraud scheme in Guam has landed on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters list, with federal authorities offering a reward of $150,000 for information leading to his arrest. Michael Lizaso Marasigan, 54, a dual citizen of the United States and the Philippines, is wanted for violating the conditions of his pretrial release after he failed to return from court-approved travel to the Philippines for medical reasons. The FBI said Marasigan and his co-conspirators defrauded patrons of the Guam Shrine Club’s Hafa Adai Bingo from March 2015 to Dec. 31, 2021 by representing that bingo proceeds would help transport children to Shriners Hospital for Children in Hawaii for medical care. Federal authorities said the illegal gambling business and fraud scheme generated at least $34 million in bingo proceeds, while about $10.75 million was diverted to Marasigan, his co-conspirators and others instead of the children’s transportation fund. Marasigan was found guilty in May 2025 of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. After his conviction, he was allowed to travel to the Philippines for medical reasons but failed to return on the required date and stopped contacting the court in June 2025, the FBI said. A federal arrest warrant was issued on June 25, 2025, in the US District Court of Guam. On May 18, 2026, Marasigan was sentenced in absentia to 262 months, or nearly 22 years, in federal prison. He was also ordered to pay $10,750,804 in joint and several restitution to the Aloha Shriners, a $5,871,493 money judgment forfeiture, and a $6,500 mandatory assessment fee. The FBI said Marasigan should be considered an escape risk. He is described as 6 feet tall, weighing 195 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He speaks English and Tagalog. Authorities urged anyone with information to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.