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National Post
07-05-2025
- National Post
Former WWE superstar facing child pornography charge
Article content Former WWE wrestler Duke 'The Dumpster' Droese was indicted earlier this week by a Tennessee grand jury after allegedly attempting to purchase child pornography in 2024. Article content Article content The retired professional wrestler, whose real name is Michael Droese, faces one count of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor. Article content The indictment was announced Monday in a press release by Chris Stanford, a state district attorney general. Article content 'This charge became aggravated because Mr. Droese intended to purchase the child sexual assault material,' Stanford alleged in the release. 'Purchasing child sexual assault material is an aggravated crime because the money used to purchase the material is what continues to make child sexual assault material profitable for criminal enterprises that produce it and sell across the world.' Article content Article content The press release alleged that Droese attempted to buy child pornography on the dark web by using a cryptocurrency account on April 21, 2024. Coinbase terminated the purchase and flagged it in the process. Article content After the FBI was alerted of the alleged attempted purchase by Droese, it notifiied the Warren County Sheriff's Department. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation assisted the Sheriff's Department, eventually bringing in Droese. Article content Droese surrendered after the grand jury indicted him and was booked at the Warren County Sheriff's Department. He was released after posting $10,000 bond. Article content It was noted in the press release that Droese had been working with an adult recovery court program, which also is referred to as 'Drug Court.' Article content Article content He was a DUI coordinator there, while also working for the program in other roles. Article content Article content Stanford said that Droese did not work with any children during his time with the program – but the former wrestler does reportedly have a history as a teacher. Article content
Fox News
07-05-2025
- Fox News
Ex-WWE wrestler accused of attempting to buy child porn
An ex-WWE wrestler was indicted by a Tennessee grand jury after allegedly attempting to purchase child pornography in 2024. Michael Droese, who went by Duke "The Dumpster" Droese during his wrestling days from 1994-96, faces one count of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor. District Attorney General Chris Stanford of the 31st Judicial District in Tennessee announced the indictment in a press release on Monday. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON "This charge became aggravated because Mr. Droese intended to purchase the child sexual assault material," Stanford said in the release. "Purchasing child sexual assault material is an aggravated crime because the money used to purchase the material is what continues to make child sexual assault material profitable for criminal enterprises that produce it and sell across the world." The press release stated that Droese attempted to buy child pornography on the dark web using a Coinbase account on April 21, 2024. The company terminated the purchase, flagging it in the process. HULK HOGAN, ERIC BISCHOFF TEAM UP TO LAUNCH REAL AMERICAN FREESTYLE, BRING COMPETITIVE WRESTLING TO MAINSTREAM The FBI was tipped off to the attempted purchase by Droese, who then told Jason Walker of the Warren County Sheriff's Department in March. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation was brought in to assist the Sheriff's Department, eventually bringing in Droese. Droese turned himself in after the grand jury indicted him. He was booked at the Warren County Sheriff's Department and released after posting $10,000 bond. The release noted that Droese had been working with the 31st Judicial District Adult Recovery Court Program, which is also referred to as "Drug Court." He was a DUI coordinator there, while also working for the program in other capacities prior to his current role. Stanford said that Droese did not work with any children during his time with the program, and he has since been terminated from his post. However, a 2009 WWE article said that Droese had moved to Tennessee after his career and became an elementary school teacher for special education students. He would later be forced to leave his job after selling oxycodone to an undercover officer in 2013. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Droese is due in Warren County Circuit Court on May 28 for an arraignment hearing. If convicted, he faces a possible sentence of two to four years in prison. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Ex-WWE star Duke Droese arrested after allegedly trying to buy child porn
A former WWE wrestler was indicted by a Tennessee grand jury after he allegedly attempted to purchase child pornography last year, according to prosecutors. Michael Droese, known as Duke 'The Dumpster' Droese during his WWE days from 1994-96, is facing one count of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor — a class D felony — after the FBI was tipped off to allegations. 'This charge became aggravated because Mr. Droese intended to purchase the child sexual assault material,' said Chris Stanford, the District Attorney General of the 31st Judicial District in Tennessee, in a release on Monday. 'Purchasing child sexual assault material is an aggravated crime because the money used to purchase the material is what continues to make child sexual assault material profitable for criminal enterprises that produce it and sell across the world.' Droese, 56, allegedly attempted to purchase child pornography from the dark web using his Coinbase account on April 21, 2024, which was flagged by the company, and the transaction was terminated, Stanford said. Michael Droese was indicted by a grand jury. Warren County Sheriff's Department Coinbase notified the FBI, which passed along the tip to Warren County Sheriff's Department investigator Jason Walker in March, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation was then quickly brought in to assist the local investigation. Undated image of Duke 'The Dumpster' Droese in the ring with Bret Hart. WWF A grand jury handed down an indictment during the May 2025 session, and Droese turned himself in to the Warren County Sheriff's Department. He was booked and released after posting $10,000 bond. He is due back in Warren County Circuit Court on May 28 for an arraignment hearing as he faces a possible sentence of two to four years if convicted. The release also noted that Droese had been working as a DUI coordinator for the 31st Judicial District Adult Recovery Court Program — also known as 'Drug Court' — and worked for the ARC program in 'various capacities' over several years. He did not work with any children during his time working with the program, and he has been terminated from the position effective immediately, Stanford added. 1994 image of Duke 'The Dumpster' Droese. via Duke "The Dumpster" Droese/Facebook An article published by the WWE website in 2009 indicated that after Droese settled in Tennessee following his wrestling career, he became an elementary school teacher for students with learning disabilities. He also said, at the time, that he was training high school athletes. In 2013, however, he resigned from his teaching job after selling oxycodone to an undercover agent. He was sentenced to a month in jail, the Southern Standard reported at the time. Droese had become a familiar face to wrestling fans during the early '90s and developed a rivalry with Jerry 'The King' Lawler, which included a moment where Lawler hit Droese in the head with his own garbage can, which prompted the WWE to apologize. Duke 'The Dumpster' Droese in 2019. Duke "The Dumpster" Droese/Facebook Duke 'The Dumpster' Droese in 2020. Duke "The Dumpster" Droese/Facebook He also developed an early rivalry with a then-young Paul 'Triple H' Levesque, who now serves as WWE's chief content officer. Drose left WWE in 1996 and continued to perform in smaller promotions around the world off and on.
Scottish Sun
06-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Former WWE star arrested after ‘trying to buy child sex assault images on the dark web'
He could face years in jail SHOCK PROBE Former WWE star arrested after 'trying to buy child sex assault images on the dark web' FORMER WWE star Duke Droese has been arrested after allegedly trying to buy indecent images of children on the dark web. The wrestler, who was known as "The Dumpster" due to him bringing a trash can to the ring, was involved in Royal Rumbles in the mid 90s. 2 Former WWE ace Duke 'The Dumpster' Droese has been arrested for trying to buying indecent images of kids Credit: Warren County Sheriffs Dept 2 He was part of WWE in the mid-90s Credit: WWE He was part of the WWE for two years, becoming the first man to defeat legend Triple H. But the 56-year-old, whose real name is Michael Droese, has now been indicted on one count of attempted aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor. Reports suggest he tried to purchase the indecent material using cryptocurrency. But Coinbase intercepted and flagged it to the FBI. District Attorney General Chris Stanford of the 31st Judicial District of Tennessee said in a statement: "Purchasing child sexual assault material is an aggravated crime. "The money used to purchase the material is what continues to make child sexual assault material profitable for criminal enterprises produce it and sell it across the world. "However, because Mr Droese was unsuccessful in securing the child sexual assault material he intended to purchase, the charge becomes a Criminal Attempt. "Thus, the decision was made to charge one count of Attempted Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor." Droese has since been released on bail. And he could supposedly face two to four years in jail. Despite leaving WWE in 1996, he did return for WrestleMania 17 in 2001. He was last in the ring two years ago as part of Major League Wrestling.
The Irish Sun
06-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Former WWE star arrested after ‘trying to buy child sex assault images on the dark web'
FORMER WWE star Duke Droese has been arrested after allegedly trying to buy indecent images of children on the dark web. The wrestler, who was known as "The Dumpster" due to him bringing a trash can to the ring, was involved in Royal Rumbles in the mid 90s. Advertisement 2 Former WWE ace Duke 'The Dumpster' Droese has been arrested for trying to buying indecent images of kids Credit: Warren County Sheriffs Dept 2 He was part of WWE in the mid-90s Credit: WWE He was part of the WWE for two years, becoming the first man to defeat legend Triple H. But the 56-year-old, whose real name is Michael Droese, has now been indicted on one count of attempted aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor. Reports suggest he tried to purchase the indecent material using cryptocurrency. But Coinbase intercepted and flagged it to the FBI. Advertisement District Attorney General Chris Stanford of the 31st Judicial District of Tennessee said in a statement: "Purchasing child sexual assault material is an aggravated crime. "The money used to purchase the material is what continues to make child sexual assault material profitable for criminal enterprises produce it and sell it across the world. "However, because Mr Droese was unsuccessful in securing the child sexual assault material he intended to purchase, the charge becomes a Criminal Attempt. "Thus, the decision was made to charge one count of Attempted Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor." Advertisement Most read in Sport Droese has since been released on bail. And he could supposedly face two to four years in jail. Despite leaving WWE in 1996, he did return for WrestleMania 17 in 2001. He was last in the ring two years ago as part of Major League Wrestling. Advertisement
