FBI Lists Convicted Bingo Operator as Wanted After $34m Fraud Case
US authorities are searching for Michael Lizaso Marasigan following his May 2025 conviction over an illegal bingo setup that misrepresented how funds would be used. Prosecutors said around $10.7m was taken from money that had been presented as supporting charitable causes. The FBI issued a warrant after he failed to return to Guam from approved travel, which led to his addition to the wanted list.
The wider operation brought in close to $34m through bingo games marketed with a charitable angle. According to court filings, that positioning played a key role in attracting participants, even though a share of the money did not reach the stated beneficiaries. Some of the activity was linked to names such as Shriners Hospitals for Children.
A federal jury found him guilty on counts including illegal gambling conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering. After the trial, he was granted permission to travel under specific conditions but did not come back, which triggered enforcement action at the start of 2026.
Investigators now believe he may be in the Philippines. His status as a fugitive means any arrest would depend on cooperation between authorities across jurisdictions.
The case points to a recurring issue in this segment. When gambling activity is tied to charitable claims, it can change how players assess risk and legitimacy. Prosecutors argued that this gap allowed the operation to run at scale without attracting the same level of scrutiny as a standard commercial setup.
TGJ Take
The exposure here sits in two places. First, charity-linked gaming still carries a built-in trust advantage that can be misused before oversight catches up. Second, once a case reaches conviction, cross-border movement creates a gap that enforcement does not always control tightly. For operators, anything tied to charitable positioning is likely to face closer review around fund flows and disclosures. For regulators, expect more pressure to tighten conditions around travel and supervision in financial crime cases tied to gambling.
