KNOXVILLE, TENN. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)), published as received.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On December 3, 2025, Christopher Kyle Duke, 36, of Maryville, Tennessee, entered a guilty plea before United States District Judge Thomas A. Varlan to one count of damaging and attempting to destroy an interstate gas pipeline facility. Sentencing has been set for April 15, 2026, at 2pm, before Judge Varlan in the United States District Court in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Duke faces a term of up to 20 years in Federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release of up to three years.
As part of the written plea agreement, Duke waived an indictment by a federal Grand Jury and agreed to plead guilty to the aforementioned charge. According to filed court documents, Enbridge is an international natural gas supplier that services approximately 25% of the natural gas consumed across the United States. East Tennessee Natural Gas LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Enbridge and operates a metering and regulating station in Maryville, TN. This station delivers natural gas to commercial and residential consumers in Blount County. On May 9, 2025, Duke scaled the chain-link and barbed-wire fence surrounding the station and recklessly damaged equipment used to monitor, meter, and regulate the transmission of natural gas, causing thousands of dollars in damage and loss.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Nashville Field Office made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Maryville Police Department and the FBI.
Assistant United States Attorney David P. Lewen, Jr. represented the United States.
###
