Latest news with #Maurizio
New York Post
5 days ago
- New York Post
Crypto ‘kidnap' mystery deepens as sources say alleged victim's parents ‘received texts' and didn't know anything was wrong
The parents of the man allegedly held captive and tortured by crypto bros in Manhattan got regular updates saying he was OK, The Post has learned. Italian national Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan, 28, was allegedly held from May 6 to 23 in a luxury apartment on Prince Street for by John Woeltz and William Duplessie, who stand charged with tying up Carturan and torturing him for his digital wallet containing an estimated $28m in digital currency, according to cops. However, sources in Italy say through the apparent kidnap 'Michael's phone and his parents exchanged messages on WhatsApp,' although sources pointed out it was possible the alleged kidnappers had been sending the messages so as not to raise the alarm. 7 Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan, with face blurred, in security footage taken after he escpaed the apartment where he was allegedly held captive for 17 days, with the police officer whom he alerted to his plight. WNBC 7 Prosecutors say Carturan had been tortured and held aginst his will for his crypto password and wallet, worth approximately $28m WNBC Carturan's reclusive parents, Maurizio and Lidia, only learned of the kidnap on May 25 when a family friend, Pietro Zucchetti, informed them, according to sources. However, the family were seemingly on high alert and had recently hired private security, according to a source, who also said they had put their $1m home in Rivoli, near Turin, up for sale. New York prosecutors have also said they believe the lives of Carturan's family in Italy had been threatened during the kidnapping period. Maurizio confirmed to Italian newspaper La Repubblica he had recieved texts he assumed were from his son through the 'kidnap' period. A neighbor told The Post Carturan has recently started travelling around the world a lot, although they said they had no idea what line of business he was in. Carturan had previously worked on Zucchetti's farm, and he described him as a 'curious young man, not one to seek out trouble.' 7 The Carturan family home in in Rivoli, near Turin, which they are said to have put up for sale for $1m. 7 Carturan's reclusive, parents, Maurizio and Lidia, in the herbalist shop they own. After hearing of their son's kidnap they flew to the US and met with him and cobsulate officials. L'Erbatisana/ YouTube 7 The cover of one of Maurizio Carturan's books. He mainly covers topics related to alchemy and spirituality and also speaks at conferences, according to sources. Videos which show Carturan seemingly partaking in parties at the house and talking about drugs were published this week by TMZ, although in some videos he appears to be restrained to a wheelchair or led by a leash around his neck. Reports also say he was monitored with an Apple AirTag around his neck to ensure he didn't leave the house. No missing person report was filed by Carturan's family, who were shocked when they found out what had happened to him and immediately went to ground. They declined approaches for comment from The Post. Carturan's father Maurizio – an author who has written 10 books about alchemy and spirituality – deleted all of his social media accounts and closed the family's shop selling herbal remedies. The parents then traveled to New York, where they met with the Italian Consul General in New York. His deputy took them to see Carturan at the local District Attorney's Office, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told The Post. The Italian Consul General said it is working with US authorities in the case and assisting them in matters of the Carturan family. 7 Suspect John Woeltz being escorted by Police in Manhattan after his arrest. David Burns 7 William Duplessie being escorted by two NYPD officers after surrendering in the crypto kidnapping case. He is currently being held without bail, but his lawyer claims the case against him will 'unravel'. Steven Hirsch Carturan escaped from the alleged ordeal on May 23 and flagged down a nearby traffic cop. He was taken to hospital, where he was treated for injuries sustained from allegedly being pistol-whipped, dangled from the top of a staircase, urinated on and having his arms and legs cut with a chainsaw. Woeltz was arrested the same day, Duplessie a few days later. Woeltz, dubbed the Crypto King of Kentucky, is said to have a private jet and live a high octane party lifestyle alongside Duplessie. They are both held in custody on charges including kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, assault and weapons possession. At Duplessie's arraignment last week his lawyer claimed the criminal case will 'begin to unravel' as more details come out. 'The facts here are hotly disputed, his involvement is hotly disputed,' attorney Sanford Talkin told the judge during the hearing.
Metro
21-04-2025
- Automotive
- Metro
Faulty machines blamed for 'thousands' of parking fines up to £170
Drivers across the UK have accused private parking firms of 'unfair' tickets. The most morbid case was for Maurizio Capoccia, from Enfield, London, who received a £100 from Euro Car Parks, saying he had parked at a Sainsbury's. However, Maurizio told Metro he was at a funeral on the other side of town, and he was eventually able to prove it with CCTV from the church. Other drivers have come forward claiming a faulty machine has landed them with a ticket. One of them is Matt Chambers, who received a £100 Parking Charge Notice (PCN) after leaving his car at the Excel Parking site in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, in February. The 35-year-old business owner claimed the system had 'only registered the letter B for my number plate,' but he entered it correctly. 'That's not right. I'm adamant I put the whole number plate in because I've used that car park several times before, and it's the exact same process every time. 'I know how to use the machine.' Those who have ever tried to challenge a parking ticket know it can be time-consuming. While Matt continues to challenge his fine, he admitted it sometimes 'feels easier to pay just to make them go away.' Maurizio remained adamant and refused to pay his fine 'because once you pay, they close the case,' he told Metro previously. Retired chef Lee Rogers says he received a fine from Euro Car Parks in August last year after the ticket he had bought only showed one digit of his number plate. The 67-year-old insists: 'I did not stand there and key in just the first digit. 'Hundreds of others have had the same problem.' He wasn't afraid to go to court over the fine as 'they know I've paid,' he said. We approached Euro Car Parks and Excel Parking for a comment. Campaigners believe 'thousands' of drivers could be affected by faulty machines. Campaigner Lynda Eagan, who helps drivers with private parking tickets, said most faulty machines involve 'sticky keys' as buttons pressed are not recorded correctly or devices which ask drivers to pay before full registration has been entered. The latter machines are 'set up to trap people,' she claimed, as they accept payment even if only the first letter of a registration is entered. Government figures analysed by PA news agency and the RAC Foundation in November last year found that private companies send around 41,000 parking tickets to drivers each day. The RAC's head of policy Simon Williams said that some parking companies are 'wrongly demanding' fines from drivers who have paid to park. He continued: 'Whether it's a faulty payment machine that records the wrong vehicle registration or an innocent mistake keying in their number plate, these people shouldn't have to pay the £100 parking charge notices they are sent. More Trending 'Many cases seem completely unjustified and should be thrown out at appeal, but sadly they so often aren't. 'We desperately need the Government to introduce the Private Parking Code of Practice to bring much-needed scrutiny to the sector.' Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander urged private parking companies to make a 'dramatic improvement' in how they deal with the public, such as 'machines and equipment that work.' A spokesperson for trade body the British Parking Association anyone who believes they have received a parking ticket issued in error should contact the parking operator and provide 'all the information that would be relevant for an appeal.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: What will happen to the £380,000 Popemobile? MORE: Gateway to Italy's 'prettiest destination' gets new direct flight from the UK MORE: Boy, 14, killed and dad in hospital after M6 crash
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
WWII veteran celebrates 100th birthday
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – On this Friday, Feb. 21, it's time to say Happy 100th Birthday to retired Navy veteran Felix Maurizio, who joined the Navy during World War II when he was 18-years-old. He told he knew from the time he was a little boy that he wanted to join the Navy. He will never forget the day he was listening to the radio in his family's kitchen when the announcer broke in to say Pearl Harbor had been bombed. Maurizio said he was 17 at the time, and he immediately wanted to serve, but his mother insisted he finish his education. When Maurizio turned 18, he was drafted into the Army. While he said he has much respect for the Army, his heart has always been with the Navy. He told military leadership that he desperately wanted to serve in the Navy. Four days later he got the call that he could live out his dream. He began basic training in Sampson, New York, and was then assigned to amphibious training at Little Creek in Norfolk to prepare for the invasion of Normandy. While Maurizio lived in Norfolk, he met his future wife, Laura. He said he knew immediately that he loved her. Maurizio continued his training, and was then sent overseas, where he hit the beaches of Normandy in the first wave of troops on June 6, 1944. Like many servicemembers, he suffered great loss that day. 'The 11 friends that I had,10 of them were actually killed, and I was the only survivor,' Maurizio said. Maurizio continued serving in his beloved Navy under the command of Admiral Chester Nimitz. He landed Marines on the beach at Iwo Jima in February 1945 after days of participating in the naval artillery shellings against forces on the island. After '36 Days of Hell,' he trained with Marines in the 4th Division for the invasion of Okinawa, which happened in April 1945. Maurizio was among the crew of the first ship to carry occupation troops to Japan. In August of that year, Maurizio said he was the one assigned to deliver the message to Nimitz that Japan surrendered. 'When the admiral realized that I wasn't kidding, he told me to get his cook because up in his locker, they had a bottle of champagne, and he told him to go get enough glasses, cups and everything for all the people on the bridge,' Maurizio said. His ship, the USS Talladega, was close to the USS Missouri when the the surrender terms were signed on Sept. 2, 1945. Maurizio continued serving on various ships in various stations. He taught communication and long range navigation to officers and enlisted personnel in Norfolk. On June 6, 1966, Maurizio retired from the Navy as a chief petty officer. He then began working for the U.S. Postal Service, from which he retired when he was 80. You read that correctly. He said he loved working for USPS so much, he didn't retire until he was 80. Maurizio and his wife were married for 73 years before she died last December. The two have a twin son and daughter as well as five grandchildren. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
