Michael “Mike” Droese, known to wrestling fans as former WWF superstar Duke “The Dumpster” Droese, was arrested Friday, May 2, following an indictment by the Warren County Grand Jury on one count of Attempted Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, according to a press release issued today by Chris Stanford, District Attorney General for the 31st Judicial District. PWInsider was first to run the press release.
The indictment alleges that on April 21, 2024, Droese used his Coinbase account “to attempt to purchase child sexual assault material (child pornography) from the Dark Web.” The press release states the transaction “was flagged and terminated prior to the purchase being completed.”
District Attorney Stanford clarified the nature of the charge in Tennessee law. “Sexual Exploitation of a Minor is the name of Tennessee’s law prohibiting child sexual assault material, in all its forms,” Stanford stated. “This charge became aggravated because Mr. Droese intended to purchase the child sexual assault material.” He further explained that purchasing such material is considered an aggravated offense because “the money used to purchase the material is what continues to make child sexual assault material profitable for criminal enterprises.”
However, because the alleged purchase was unsuccessful, the charge became a Criminal Attempt. “Thus, the decision was made to charge one (1) count of Attempted Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor – a Class D Felony in the State of Tennessee that carries a possible sentence of two (2) to four (4) years,” the release detailed.
The investigation leading to the indictment began long after the alleged attempt. According to Stanford, the FBI initially received a tip from Coinbase regarding the attempted transaction. Information was eventually passed to local authorities on March 19, 2025, when Investigator Jason Walker with the Warren County Sheriff’s Department received the tip from the FBI and immediately forwarded it to the District Attorney’s office. Stanford noted this was “the first date any local or state law enforcement official had any knowledge of Mr. Droese’s alleged criminal conduct.”
On March 24, 2025, Stanford requested assistance from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. TBI Special Agent Kevin Starr was assigned the case. Stanford commended the TBI’s work, stating Starr “made quick work of the file and presented me with his sound investigative findings” within weeks, leading to the decision to seek an indictment.
Following the Grand Jury indictment, bail was set at $10,000. Droese “peacefully submitted himself to the Warren County Sheriff’s Department where he was booked on the charges and was immediately released upon making bond,” according to the statement. His arraignment in Warren County Circuit Court is scheduled for May 28, 2025.
At the time of his indictment, Droese was employed as the DUI Coordinator for the 31st Judicial District Adult Recovery Court Program (ARC), commonly known as ‘Drug Court’. Stanford addressed this, stating, “While it is certainly concerning that a member of the ARC Program has allegedly committed such a repulsive crime, rest assured that at no point during his service as a member of the ARC Program, Mr. Droese was never given a job duty that mandated any contact with children.” He also confirmed that all ARC participants are adults.
C. Brad Price, Director of the ARC Program, informed the District Attorney that Droese was terminated from his employment “effective immediately” upon learning of the indictment.
This is not Droese’s first legal issue. In 2013, while employed as a teacher, he was indicted for selling prescription drugs (oxycodone and buprenorphine) to an undercover informant. He subsequently resigned his teaching position and was sentenced to serve 30 days of a three-year sentence, receiving probation and paying fines and court costs.
District Attorney Stanford concluded his press release with a firm stance: “All sexual related crimes against children occurring in Warren or Van Buren counties will be aggressively prosecuted by my office, no matter who you are. Be forewarned.”
