SURVIVOR STAR MICHAEL SKUPIN, 54, IS CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AFTER POLICE 'FIND ILLEGAL PICTURES ON HIS COMPUTER WHILE INVESTIGATING HIM OVER AN ALLEGED PONZI SCHEME'

Survivor star Michael Skupin, 54, is charged with possession of child pornography after police 'find illegal pictures on his computer while investigating him over an alleged Ponzi scheme'

Michael Skupin, known for falling into a fire pit during Survivor: The Australian Outback, was charged with possessing child pornography
Skupin, 54, was arraigned Friday in his home state of Michigan
Investigators said they found illegal pictures on Skupin's laptop during an investigation into an alleged Ponzi scheme
Skupin, who spent 56 days on Survivor islands, faces up to 29 years in prison if convicted
By ANTON NILSSON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 20:33 EST, 5 February 2016 | UPDATED: 12:11 EST, 6 February 2016
   


Michael Skupin (pictured in Survivor in 2012) was charged Friday with possession of child pornography


A former Survivor contestant has been charged with possession of child pornography in Michigan.
Michael Skupin, who appeared in two seasons of the reality show Survivor, was jailed Friday after investigators looking into an alleged Ponzi scheme run by him said they found illegal pictures on his computer.
Skupin, 54, was booked on 12 felony charges, including six counts of possession of child sexual abusive materials, according to the Michigan Attorney General.
He is perhaps best known for falling into a fire pit during Survivor's second season in 2012, which was set in the Australian Outback, and being the first to be removed from the show by medical evacuation.
During his two seasons, he spent a total of 56 days on deserted islands.
The investigation into Skupin's affairs began after investors who put money into a business run by the reality star complained they'd been tricked, according to the Attorney General Bill Schuette.
'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 Attorney General wrote.
'The scheme was discovered when eventually there were no new investors signing and most people in the scheme lost all of their money.'
Michael Skupin during his second Survivor stint



He competed twice on the Emmy-Award winning show


Skupin, who lives in Oakland County, had his laptop searched as part of the Ponzi scheme investigation.
On the computer, pictures allegedly belonging to Skupin were discovered that depicted 'underage children in sexual situations'.
'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,' said Schuette.
'This man seems to have no concept or caring for right and wrong and will be prosecuted under the full extent of the law for these horrific crimes.'
Skupin was also accused of five counts of larceny by conversion and one count of racketeering.  
If convicted on all counts, Skupin could face up to 29 years in prison.
Survivor Philippines trailer: Meet Michael Skupin




Michael Skupin, second from right, on set in the Philippines during his second run on Survivor in 2012


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