Three Guam residents tied to a charitable bingo operation have been sentenced in federal courtroom after prosecutors stated they siphoned greater than $10 million away from kids needing medical therapy and used the cash for themselves.
The convictions stem from the Guam Shrine Membership’s Hafa Adai Bingo parlor in Tamuning, which authorities stated operated for years whereas falsely presenting itself as a fundraiser supporting journey for youngsters looking for care at Shriners Hospital for Kids in Hawaii.
Jose Arthur “Artwork” Chan Jr., 77, obtained a 60-month jail sentence on Might 12. His spouse, Christine Chan, 64, was sentenced the identical day to 70 months behind bars. Michael Marasigan, 54, was sentenced in absentia on Might 18 to 262 months in jail after authorities stated he fled earlier than sentencing.
Federal prosecutors stated Marasigan traveled to South Korea whereas awaiting sentencing, prompting the FBI to proceed trying to find him as a fugitive. Courtroom data confirmed he failed to look for scheduled proceedings earlier than the choose imposed the sentence with out him current.
A federal jury convicted all three defendants in Might 2025 on prices together with conspiracy to function an unlawful playing enterprise, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and cash laundering conspiracy. Christine Chan and Marasigan have been additionally discovered responsible on extra cash laundering counts.
Officers element years-long scheme bingo fraud in Guam
According to prosecutors, the operation ran from March 2015 by the tip of 2021 and generated roughly $34 million in gross bingo income. Investigators stated greater than $10.7 million in internet proceeds was diverted for private spending as an alternative of charitable work related to the Shriners group.
Proof introduced throughout trial confirmed the bingo corridor promoted itself as serving to pay airfare and journey prices for youngsters and guardians touring from Guam to Hawaii for medical therapy. Prosecutors argued that gamers and donors believed their spending supported sick kids when many of the cash by no means reached that function.
Federal data confirmed solely about $140,378 in bingo proceeds from 2015 by 2020 went towards funds tied to the charitable mission. Prosecutors stated not one of the proceeds collected in 2021 supported the group’s said trigger.
The courtroom additionally ordered tens of millions of {dollars} in restitution and forfeiture. Marasigan alone was ordered to forfeit greater than $5.8 million.
“These defendants traded on the popularity of the Shriners Kids’s healthcare system to perpetrate their multi-million-dollar fraud,” U.S. Legal professional Shawn N. Anderson stated in a press release. “It was an unconscionable means to non-public acquire. We’ll make each effort to implement restitution and be certain that Marasigan and the Chans spend each day of their sentences in federal jail.”
Different defendants who cooperated with prosecutors, together with Juanita Capulong, Minda San Nicolas, Alfredo Leon Guerrero and Received Solar Min, obtained probationary or supervised launch sentences after pleading responsible.
Featured picture: Screenshot through KUAM News
