Former Survivor star, Hall of Shame member, Mike Skupin arrested on child porn

A man who Rob Wolchek put in the Hall of Shame more than two years ago has landed in jail on several charges including possession of child pornography.

Mike Skupin was arrested and booked into the Oakland County Jail on five counts of larceny, one count of racketeering, and six counts of possession of child pornography.

The name may ring a bell from the TV show "Survivor". Skupin was on the show twice and, in perhaps his most memorable moment, was burned in a fire and had to be medevaced off the island.

The name may also be familiar for his spot in the Hall of Shame.

After the show, he moved back to Metro Detroit where he started a new financial sharing business, "Pay it forward."

Skupin was arraigned Friday on six counts of possession of child sexual abusive materials, a four year felony, five counts of larceny by conversion, a five year felony and one count of racketeering, conducting a criminal enterprise - a 20 year felony.

Attorney General Bill Schuette released a statement with news of the charges, saying: "Not only did this man rob people of their hard earned savings with his financial scams but he victimized innocent children every time he looked at a piece of child pornography."

In a press release, it said: "An investigation began into Skupin after victims from his alleged Ponzi scheme contacted a local news reporter. It is alleged that Michael Skupin recruited investors and friends to take part in his “gifting scheme” called Pay It Forward. Victims allegedly made $10,000 cash investments in the scheme. Their money would then cycle through a chart in which participants were eventually paid out of other new investors’ money. 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. The images are alleged to belong to Skupin."

Reason for Being on SURVIVOR: To avenge a long-standing internal battle, wondering if I can win this game in spite of the changes and my 12 year absence. No matter what any returning player may say, you never stop thinking about going back. And: 7 cars when they turn 16, 7 college educations, 7 weddings… I want to be there for my kids at all times when they need me.