HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — A former president of Guam Shrine Club is set to plead guilty to his alleged involvement in a federal illegal gambling and money laundering conspiracy.
In June, seven individuals were charged in the District Court of Guam. The executives of the nonprofit were allegedly operating Håfa Adai Bingo and conspiring to “unjustly enrich themselves.”
The seven individuals indicted include Jose Arthur Chan, past club president; Alfredo Leon Guerrero, past president until December 2018; and Richard Brown, secretary and vice president; Michael Marasigan, owner and operator of Ideal Ventures; Christine Chan, spouse of Jose Arthur Chan and owner of Nanan Bray; Juanita Capulong, common-law spouse of Leon Guerrero; and Minda San Nicolas, owner of TSAC Ventures and sister of Capulong.
Since being charged, the seven pleaded not guilty to charges that included money laundering, conspiracy and illegal gambling and are set to go to trial on Dec. 12.
However, last week, federal prosecutors filed a motion to seal a plea agreement for Leon Guerrero “to avoid any potential undue influence from any co-defendant.”
Magistrate Judge Michael Bordallo on Monday allowed the plea agreement to be sealed until the change of plea hearing is complete.
Leon Guerrero is scheduled to plead guilty Thursday afternoon, and until then, the details of the plea agreement are not available to the public.
Leon Guerrero was charged with conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and money laundering conspiracy.
Court documents allege Leon Guerrero in March 2015 falsely represented that Marasigan would act as a consultant during Guam Shrine Club bingo fundraisers, but actually knew Marasigan and others would “conduct, finance, manage and supervise, or direct, the GSC’s bingo fundraising activities.”
In the following years, Leon Guerrero and co-defendants opened accounts with different banks and false total revenues were reported.
Hafa Adai Bingo in Tamuning as seen on Tuesday, July 11, 2023.
