Maryville Man Sentenced To Prison For Attempting To Destroy An Interstate Gas Pipeline Facility

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - On May 28, 2026, Christopher Kyle Duke, 36, of Maryville, TN, was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment by the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Following his imprisonment, Duke will be on federal supervised release for two years. As part of his sentence, Duke is required to make restitution in the amounts of $23,236.27 to Enbridge, Inc. and $15,456.12 to Atmos Energy.

Today's sentencing hearing followed Duke's prior entry of a guilty plea to an information charging him with one count of knowingly and willfully acting in a manner to damage and attempt to destroy an interstate gas pipeline facility used in interstate or foreign commerce, in violation of 49 U.S.C. § 60123(b).

Court documents showed that on May 9, 2025, Duke drove to the Enbridge and East Tennessee Natural Gas LLC Natural Gas Substation in Maryville, TN. Duke then scaled the chain-link and barbed wire fencing surrounding the substation. Once inside, Duke recklessly released numerous gas valves causing an immediate, high-pressure emergency release of large quantities of gas which caused the ground to shake. Duke also intentionally damaged equipment used to monitor, meter, and regulate the transmission of natural gas to commercial and residential consumers in Blount County.

U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly 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.

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