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*As of 2021, the charges mentioned in this article have been expunged from Utah court records.
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Attorney General's Office has distributed restitution checks totaling over $405,000 to 17 victims of a real estate scam.
The checks were distributed on Sept. 19 after Michael Robinson pleaded guilty to two second-degree felony counts of communications fraud and one second-degree felony count of pattern of unlawful activity.
According to court records, Robinson through his company Paramount Holdings convinced homeowners facing foreclosure that he would help them from losing their homes.
After promising financial assistance and the chance to regain their homes, Robinson quickly transferred the deeds to his control and then evicted owners from their homes.
Jeff Atkinson, who paid $1,200 a month to Robinson and gave him the deed to his house, says he was shocked when the full restitution checks were given to him and other victims.
He says "it's hard to find words to explain the emotion of getting our money back."
Third District Judge Denise Lindberg agreed to suspend the then-42-year-old Robinson's prison sentence after he paid the restitution.
