Luxury Dwellings Transform into Chaos: Excessive Party Escalates into Physical Assault on Cryptocurrency Entrepreneur in Manhattan Townhouse
Cryptocurrency Investor Arrested for Alleged Kidnapping and Torture
John Woeltz, a Kentucky-based entrepreneur, has been charged with kidnapping, assault, unlawful imprisonment, and possession of a firearm, following explosive allegations that he tortured an Italian tourism for 17 days to extract his Bitcoin password.
Woeltz and his business partner, William Duplessie, are suspected of luring the victim to their luxury Manhattan townhouse in early May under the false pretense of returning Bitcoin that had already been extorted. The victim, Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan, managed to escape the residence last week, appearing bloodied and barefoot on a busy SoHo street.
NYPD officers converged on the property shortly after the escape, detaining Woeltz, who was found inside the townhouse in a white bathrobe. Duplessie surrendered to police on Tuesday and is currently awaiting indictment.
Investigations at the townhouse revealed evidence of torture, including Polaroid photographs showing Carturan bound to a chair with a gun to his head, believed to have been intended for extortion. Other items found at the scene included night vision goggles, a bulletproof vest, and clearly discarded supplies such as empty alcohol bottles and cocaine.
The 6-story townhouse, which reportedly rents for an estimated $75,000 a month, served as a hub for extravagant parties, attended by a mixture of high-profile New York residents and women brought from a local erotic nightclub. Insiders claim that Woeltz and Duplessie, who aspired to climb Manhattan's social ladder, frequently sent tens of thousands of dollars at a time during their nightly adventures at The Box.
New York City has witnessed a recent surge in violent cryptocurrency-related crimes, including a high-profile incident in which a father had a finger severed by attackers seeking access to his son's digital currency assets. As authorities continue to investigate the incident involving Woeltz and Duplessie, they are also scrutinizing the role of NYPD officers suspected of providing security at the luxury townhouse and possibly transporting the victim from the airport.
Woeltz and Duplessie remain the subjects of ongoing investigations. While awaiting his court appearance on June 11, Woeltz faces charges that may carry substantial penalties if convicted.
- The police are questioning the role of NYPD officers who allegedly provided security at the luxury townhouse where cryptocurrency investor John Woeltz was arrested, as they are reportedly under suspicion of transporting the victim from the airport.
- The general news of violent cryptocurrency-related crimes continues to increase, with instances such as the high-profile case where a father had his finger severed for access to his son's digital currency assets.
- According to reports, the townhouse where John Woeltz resides, a venue for extravagant parties, attracted a blend of high-profile New York residents and women from a local erotic nightclub, with Woeltz and his partner, William Duplessie, often spending tens of thousands of dollars during their nightly adventures at The Box.
- The business partners, Woeltz and Duplessie, were suspected of luring their victim to their luxury Manhattan townhouse under the pretext of recovering Bitcoin, following which they are accused of kidnapping, torturing, and other crimes, and not limited to news related to finance, technology, sports, crime-and-justice, or general-news.
