Double Trouble: New York Men Arrested in Crypto Kidnapping Scheme

William Duplessie, 32, recently turned himself in as a second suspect in the alleged kidnapping and torture of an Italian man in Manhattan, aiming to extract cryptocurrency information. Their victim managed to escape after weeks of captivity and reported the ordeal to authorities.

In a dramatic turn of events in Manhattan, a second suspect has been arrested in connection to the alleged torture and kidnapping of an Italian tourist, in a bizarre scheme targeting cryptocurrency assets. William Duplessie, 32, surrendered to the authorities on Tuesday after his alleged accomplice, John Woeltz, 37, was taken into custody the previous week.

According to police, the duo reportedly abducted their victim and held him captive for almost three weeks in an upscale SoHo residence, where they tortured him in their efforts to extract his Bitcoin wallet password. The harrowing ordeal included being dangled off a rooftop ledge, subjected to electric shocks, and even threatened with a chainsaw, all aimed at coercing the victim to reveal his cryptocurrency credentials.

Duplessie and Woeltz have been charged with kidnapping for ransom, assault, unlawful imprisonment, and other related offenses. These arrests follow a frantic escape by the victim, who managed to flee the luxurious $30,000 to $40,000 per month rental property, where horrific abuses occurred.

While the identity of the victim has not been publicly disclosed, he reported to the police that upon arriving in New York from Italy, Woeltz seized his passport, imprisoning him until his recent escape. The shocking conditions of his captivity were validated during a police search of the home, which unveiled evidence including Polaroid photographs depicting the victim's torment, as well as firearms and narcotics.

This incident is reflective of a wider trend, with authorities in France also apprehending over 20 individuals linked to various kidnapping plots aimed at cryptocurrency investors and their families. This raises alarming questions regarding the growing intersection of crime and digital currency wealth.