Two men are accused of turning a Duke Energy substation into an off-the-books power source, with warrants claiming they routed nearly $591,000 worth of electricity to a campground across from Charlotte Motor Speedway. The documents name 55-year-old Michael Keith Kluttz and 65-year-old Edward Jerome Little and say the unauthorized feed served Ver‑El RV Park. Authorities booked both into the Cabarrus County jail on Thursday, June 4, and say they face multiple felony charges.
According to WBTV, the warrants allege that Kluttz and Little, who are both identified as Duke Energy employees, tapped a substation on Morehead Road and "gained 'unauthorized power'" for Ver‑El RV Park. Investigators estimate the value of the allegedly stolen power at about $591,000, and WBTV reports the pair were taken into custody on Thursday.
Court documents list charges against both men including injure an energy facility, obtaining property by false pretense greater than $100,000, and money laundering greater than $100,000, as reported by FOX19. The FOX19 report adds that warrants show Little also faces two counts of possessing a weapon of mass destruction tied to an alleged fully automatic firearm.
How investigators say the scheme likely worked
Investigators have not released wiring diagrams, but utilities say large-scale thefts usually involve meter tampering or illegal taps that divert power before it is measured, which can conceal sizable commercial consumption. Duke Energy has described how investigative teams trace tampering and work with law enforcement to recover losses and shut down unsafe feeds.
Why this matters locally
The Ver‑El campground sits directly across from Charlotte Motor Speedway and often fills during major race weekends, which would magnify any unmetered commercial draw, according to WBTV. Beyond the estimated $591,000 loss cited in the warrants, unauthorized high-voltage feeds can create safety risks for residents, utility workers and first responders.
Charges and next steps
The offenses listed in the warrants are felonies under North Carolina law and, if prosecutors pursue the case, could carry significant prison terms and fines. Records show both men were booked into Cabarrus County jail and were scheduled to appear in court on Friday, and neither Duke Energy nor the Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office had issued a public statement by publication time, as reported by FOX19.
Investigators said the probe remains active as engineers and prosecutors trace usage and wiring to quantify losses and any civil exposure. We will update this story as court filings or official statements become available.
