Ex-WWE Wrestler Indicted for Child Exploitation

Former WWE wrestler Michael Droese, known as Duke 'The Dumpster' Droese, has been indicted in Tennessee for attempted aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor after allegedly trying to purchase child sexual abuse material on the dark web using cryptocurrency. The attempted transaction was flagged and blocked by Coinbase, which then notified the FBI and led to an investigation by local authorities. Droese, 56, turned himself in, posted $10,000 bail, and faces a possible sentence of two to four years in prison if convicted. He was previously employed as a DUI coordinator for a local recovery court but was immediately terminated from his position following the indictment. District Attorney Chris Stanford emphasized the seriousness of the crime and has pledged to prosecute such cases aggressively, regardless of the accused's status. Droese has a prior drug-related arrest and is scheduled for arraignment on May 28, 2025.