Former ‘Survivor’ Star Sentenced on Child Porn Charges

A Farmington Hills man who once competed on the reality series “Survivor” could spend up to four years in prison following his sentencing Tuesday on four counts of possession of child sexually abusive materials. Michael Skupin, 54, was sentenced to one to four years in prison by Oakland County 6th Circuit Court Judge Wendy Potts.

Skupin, who was convicted in November, must register as a sex offender under Michigan’s Sex Offender Registry Act, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said in a news release. Additionally, he is restricted from using a computer outside of work purposes.

Skupin was charged by Schuette in February 2016 after authorities discovered the pornographic material during the course of a Ponzi scheme investigation. Skupin’s victims of a “gifting scheme” called Pay It Forward made cash investments, and their money would then cycle through a chart in which participants were eventually paid out of other new investors’ money, Schuette said.

The scheme was discovered when eventually there were no new investors signing and most people in the scheme lost all of their money. Skupin’s laptop was searched in conjunction with the Ponzi scheme investigation. During the search, investigators discovered images of underage children in sexual situations.

Skupin was charged in February with counts of financial crimes of larceny by conversion and racketeering, as well as possession of child sexually abusive materials. He must pay restitution of $31,800 and was placed on probation for financial crimes. His first payments will go toward restitution to his victims, many of whom lost their life savings, Schuette said.

“Today's sentencing is a strong message to those who prey on children: no matter who you are or what you do, we will find you,” Shuette said in the news release. “The act of downloading and viewing images of children in sexually abusive situations is reprehensible, this behavior re-victimizes the child victims over and over.”

Skupin appeared on “Survivor: The Australian Outback” and “Survivor: Philippines” on CBS.

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