In a chilling continuation of an alleged cryptocurrency kidnapping scheme in Manhattan, a second suspect, 32-year-old William Duplessie, has turned himself in. His arrest follows the detainment of his alleged accomplice, 37-year-old John Woeltz, who is said to have orchestrated the torture of an Italian tourist in his SoHo apartment. The victim suffered horrific conditions that included being hung off a roof ledge, electric shocks, and threats involving a chainsaw while the suspects demanded his Bitcoin wallet password.
Both Duplessie and Woeltz face serious charges including kidnapping for ransom, assault, unlawful imprisonment, and more. The Italian tourist, whose identity remains confidential, managed to escape after nearly three weeks held captive. He had arrived in New York on May 6 and was allegedly stripped of his passport upon arrival at Woeltz's lavish rental, which costs between $30,000 and $40,000 monthly.
The shocking details surfaced after the victim bravely reported his ordeal to the police, leading to investigations that included a search of the luxury apartment where law enforcement found disturbing evidence: Polaroid images capturing the victim's torment, various firearms, and illicit drugs.
This incident follows alarming trends in France, where over 20 arrests have been made in connection to recent kidnapping plots aimed at cryptocurrency entrepreneurs. Authorities disclosed similar raids tied to abduction attempts in Nantes and Paris, highlighting the growing risks in the crypto space as criminals target the wealthy and their families.
Both Duplessie and Woeltz face serious charges including kidnapping for ransom, assault, unlawful imprisonment, and more. The Italian tourist, whose identity remains confidential, managed to escape after nearly three weeks held captive. He had arrived in New York on May 6 and was allegedly stripped of his passport upon arrival at Woeltz's lavish rental, which costs between $30,000 and $40,000 monthly.
The shocking details surfaced after the victim bravely reported his ordeal to the police, leading to investigations that included a search of the luxury apartment where law enforcement found disturbing evidence: Polaroid images capturing the victim's torment, various firearms, and illicit drugs.
This incident follows alarming trends in France, where over 20 arrests have been made in connection to recent kidnapping plots aimed at cryptocurrency entrepreneurs. Authorities disclosed similar raids tied to abduction attempts in Nantes and Paris, highlighting the growing risks in the crypto space as criminals target the wealthy and their families.
