A federal judge ordered the arrest of Michael Marasigan after the convicted felon failed to return to Guam, and stopped communicating with his probation officer.
Mr. Marasigan, who was convicted on dozens of federal felony counts on May 13 this year, was allowed by the federal court to travel to Manila after his conviction for medical reasons, according to federal court documents dated June 23. He was supposed to return to Guam on June 20.
He was convicted of operating – through his business – an illegal gambling business and siphoning tens of millions in proceeds to himself and to others. The former business owner was scheduled to be sentenced in August. He faced more than 100 years in prison.
According to his probation officer’s petition that led to his warrant of arrest, Mr. Marasigan on May 28 asked the federal court to allow him to travel to the Philippines from May 30 to June 20. The request was by stipulation, meaning the prosecutor in the case did not object to the request, even though the travel would happen after the conviction and prior to sentencing.
“On May 29, 2025, the Court issued an Order Granting Stipulation to Travel,” the probation officer wrote. “He was ordered to remain in contact with this Officer and to contact this Officer immediately, if there are any changes to his itinerary.”
According to the officer, she called and messaged him multiple times on June 20. “All the calls went unanswered,” she stated to the court, adding that her multiple messages by WhatsApp also went unanswered.
The following day she sent another WhatsApp message and he replied, she said. According to her statement, Mr. Marasigan told her he had missed his flight, but would be departing Manila on the evening of Sunday, June 22. That would mean he would arrive in Guam early in the morning Monday, June 23. She said that she followed up with messages asking him to provide an updated itinerary and instructing him to report to the probation office at 8:30 a.m. this past Monday.
“The messages went unanswered, and the defendant failed to report as instructed,” she wrote to the court.
This past Monday she asked that the court issue a warrant of arrest and order that Mr. Marasigan, once arrested, be detained until his sentencing. Judge Michael Bordallo issued the warrant today.
The United States and the Republic of the Philippines have an extradition treaty, according to the U.S. Department of State. This means the American government can petition the Philippine government to find Mr. Marasigan – if he is still in the Philippines – and to turn him over to American law enforcement to be brought back into the country and before the judge who issued the arrest warrant.
