Latest news with #NewYorkPost
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Crypto duo faces kidnapping charges in alleged bitcoin theft attempt
The latest crime thriller gripping New York is the alleged kidnapping of a wealthy Italian man whose captors attempted to torture the crypto millionaire into giving up his bitcoin password. It began amid the backdrop of wild parties, immortalized in pop culture through films like "The Wolf of Wall Street," in a posh Manhattan nightclub where the nouveau riche and flashy Wall Street bros congregate. It ended on the morning of May 23, when a man ran to a police officer near Mulberry and Prince streets in the Soho district of Manhattan. The barefoot man claimed he had just escaped a luxurious apartment where he was held captive for 17 days after entering the United States. Police arrived at the scene and arrested John Woeltz, 37, dubbed "the crypto king of Kentucky" by tabloids, who is facing charges of kidnapping, criminal possession of weapons, assault and unlawful imprisonment. Woeltz's 24-year-old assistant was also detained but does not face the same charges. A second man, William Duplessie, 33, who is the founder of the startup Pangea Blockchain International, turned himself in on Tuesday and was charged similarly to Woeltz. Duplessie, who originally hails from Miami, appeared in court Friday wearing a jail uniform. - Philosophy degree - According to details reported by local media, the presumed victim is Italian cryptocurrency entrepreneur Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan, who visited John Woeltz's rented home -- which goes for $30,000 a month -- upon arriving from Italy on May 6. Once there, Woeltz and Duplessie confiscated his electronic devices and passport, and demanded the access code to his bitcoin assets, police said. After his refusal, the two men allegedly tortured Carturan, striking him with a rifle, pointing the weapon in his face and taking him to the building's fifth floor, where they threatened to throw him out the window, local media reported. "He's a 37-year-old man with no prior criminal record. He's a college graduate with a degree in philosophy. He has been very successful in the technology world," Woeltz's lawyer Wayne Ervin Gosnell said during a court hearing Thursday. The defense requested Woeltz's conditional release in the state of New York in exchange for a $2 million bond. Gosnell also noted that it has been said Woeltz "owns a private jet, he owns a helicopter. That is not true." - Lavish lifestyle - Though Woeltz has neither a jet nor a helicopter, he leads an exceedingly lavish lifestyle, according to the New York Post and TMZ, which published racy images of the suspects partying at The Box, a New York nightclub. The Post also mentioned frequent parties at the Soho apartment that is the scene of the alleged kidnapping. In recent months, cases of kidnappings or attempted abductions in the cryptocurrency world have multiplied globally as bitcoin, the most capitalized cryptocurrency, has grown to historical peaks. For Adam Healy, CEO of Station70, a firm specializing in crypto protection, these crimes are not new -- he worked on a case years ago when an American traveling to Egypt was kidnapped for his crypto assets. "I think that the frequency and the ruthlessness is increasing," Healy said. In the last six to eight months, he has seen "a significant uptick in those that are known to hold crypto or executives at crypto firms, things along those lines, getting targeted by a wide range of different criminals." Healy attributed part of the uptick in crime to the rising price of bitcoin. "It's a bigger target," he said, and they are boosted by the ease with which massive payloads can be transferred with no oversight -- as long as the crypto user can log in. "Historically, if you wanted to kidnap something that was high net worth and they had, I don't know, ten million dollars in their JP Morgan account, it was kind of hard to get to," Healy said. "You couldn't just go to the bank and get a million dollars out." gl/bdx/sla/jgc
New York Post
7 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Josh Hart flipped his Knicks script after being ‘embarrassed' by Game 4 dud
INDIANAPOLIS — Josh Hart watched the tape and did not recognize himself. He despised what he saw. Advertisement Hart produced likely his worst performance of the postseason in the Knicks' Game 4 loss to the Pacers on Tuesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. He committed five turnovers. He had just one assist. He committed unnecessary fouls and struggled on the defensive end. Advertisement 'Last game, I felt like I was trying and I watched the film and I was really embarrassed about what I was doing, how I looked and the lack of intensity, lack of passion, lack of competitiveness,' Hart said after the Knicks' 111-94 Game 5 win Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. 'I was embarrassed, honestly. Not even the turnovers, but giving up back cuts, not communicating. I'm the guy who's supposed to play with a high competitive nature, a high motor. Those were things I couldn't look at myself in the mirror, let alone look at these guys.' Josh Hart attempts a shot during the Knicks' Game 5 win on May 29. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post The Knicks' defensive effort was dramatically improved Thursday, and that was especially true for Hart. Advertisement The Knicks had a 101.4 defensive rating (points given up per 100 possessions) when Hart was on the floor in Game 5. Follow The Post's coverage of the Knicks in the 2025 NBA Playoffs Sports+ subscribers: Sign up for Inside the Knicks to get daily newsletter coverage and join Expert Take for insider texts about the series. Josh Hart attempts a layup during the Knicks' Game 5 win on May 29. Jason Szenes / New York Post That was a steep improvement from the 117.7 mark in Game 5. Advertisement And he limited his mistakes, committing three turnovers and dishing out four assists. What's happening on and off the Garden court Sign up for Inside the Knicks by Stefan Bondy, a weekly exclusive on Sports+. Thank you Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Check out more newsletters 'I put everything on the back burner,' Hart said. 'Scoring, all those kinds of things. It was just go out there and be aggressive defensively, try to get into the ball, fly around and get offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, get these guys going. I've got to do that next game and sometimes I've got to be a little more aggressive offensively and pick my spots. But I was embarrassed how I played Game 4 and I knew I had to come in and pick it up.' To continue their comeback in the series, the Knicks will need that exact mentality again.
New York Post
8 hours ago
- Business
- New York Post
The iPhone 12 still holds up, and now you can get one for $230
Discover startups, services, products and more from our partner StackCommerce. New York Post edits this content, and may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you buy through our links. TL;DR: Get a powerful iPhone 12 for a fraction of the usual price — now just $229.99 (reg. $729) while supplies last. If you're not obsessed with always having the latest iPhone, you can take advantage of some amazing deals on older models. They can do all the same tasks for a fraction of the price, so if you're in the market for a new phone, it's a smart financial decision. This iPhone 12, for example, is just $229.99 (reg. $729) right here for a limited time. Don't sleep on the iPhone 12. This particular model includes an A14 Bionic chip, one of the fastest chips in a smartphone, which provides serious performance for all your daily tasks. It can also handle photography, gaming, and AR. Like newer iPhones, this model has 5G capability that offers lightning-fast speeds for streaming, gaming, and downloading content. And your data will stay secure thanks to the Face ID feature. If you tend to drop your phone, you'll love the Ceramic Shield feature that offers enhanced durability. It protects the 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, where you'll scroll your favorite apps and snap photos with the 12MP camera. This model's camera also includes night mode, so you can capture high-quality photos even in low-light settings. This iPhone 12 provides 17 hours of video playback on a single charge. Once you're low on battery, you can power back up wirelessly thanks to MagSafe technology. You'll enjoy a 68% discount thanks to this model's grade A refurbished rating. That means you'll receive a refurbished iPhone 12 in near-mint condition, with virtually no signs of prior use, while securing the sale price. Take advantage of this deal on the iPhone 12 for just $229.99 (reg. $729) while supplies last. StackSocial prices subject to change.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Taylor Swift breaks cover for NYC dinner with A-lister pal at her go-to spot
Welcome BACK to New York! Taylor Swift came out of hiding for a delicious dinner out in New York City Thursday night. The 'Cruel Summer' singer was spotted rocking up to her go-to Italian restaurant, Via Carota, in the West Village, according to videos circulating online. Swift was joined by Dakota Johnson as well as her brother, Austin Swift, and the '50 Shades of Grey' actress' brother, Jesse Johnson. Taylor, 35, wore a black floral dress cinched at the waist with a chain and leather belt, and she accessorized with strappy black stilettos and a pendant necklace. The pop star wore her signature red lip and had her hair pulled back in a high ponytail. Taylor appeared to be in high spirits and smiled as onlookers' jaws dropped in shock. 'Best night of my life,' one Swiftie who was dining at the renowned eatery captioned a video of Taylor's visit. BUY NOW $298.00 New York Post receives revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and when you make a purchase. Taylor seemingly walked in with just her security guard and later in the evening, she was seen surrounded by fans taking photos as she exited the venue and hopped into a black SUV. The Grammy winner has dined at the beloved trattoria on several occasions, including shortly after her breakup from Joe Alwyn in March 2023. At the time, she ate pasta with Jack Antonoff and Margaret Qualley. That September, she and Sophie Turner hit the hotspot right after news surfaced that the 'Game of Thrones' star and Joe Jonas were divorcing. Taylor's return to the Big Apple dining scene comes amid her months-long retreat from the spotlight. Last week, she and boyfriend Travis Kelce popped up at Harry's in West Palm Beach, Fla., for a $400 meal. They also resurfaced to celebrate Mother's Day with Kelce's family in Philadelphia earlier this month. She and the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, also 35, have both been staying under the radar after his Super Bowl 2025 loss in February and the wrapping of her Eras Tour in December. Taylor has also been quiet amid her unfolding drama with Blake Lively, who dragged her into her contentious legal battle with Justin Baldoni. 'This is such a nice escape for them to finally be able to stay out of the limelight for a bit before they eventually have to get out in the public eye again due to their careers,' a source exclusively told Page Six in April. 'They really cherish this time while they can because they know it can't last forever.' Kelce has been renting a $20 million mansion in Florida's Boca Raton area as he trains for the upcoming NFL season.
New York Post
8 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- New York Post
Shop the 13 best Amazon deals of the weekend: Apple, DeWalt, summer styles, more
New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change. Another week has come and gone. What is it about short weeks that makes them feel longer? Remind us to check in with some sort of scientist about time dilation before we write the next one of these, and we'll get back to you with some answers. Was there news this week? If so, we certainly can't remember. We were too busy living in the afterglow of a Memorial Day weekend spent in the presence of family and friends. Why can't every weekend be a long holiday weekend? Remind us to check in with higher-ups on this, too, and we'll get back to you next week with some answers. Luckily, we're just about to head into the weekend once again, and even luckier, there are tons of great Amazon deals to take advantage of over the (normal-length) weekend, including savings on brands like Apple and DeWalt, and summer sales on style, like sandals, beach bags, and more. And — reminder — we're only a few weeks out from Father's Day! It could be a good idea to get your shopping done now. Below, we've rounded up our 13 favorite deals of the weekend. Enjoy your weekend, and enjoy the savings! Amazon The CUSHIONAIRE Lane Cork Footbed Sandals offer a stylish and affordable alternative to pricier brands like Birkenstock. Featuring adjustable double-buckle straps and a genuine suede footbed, they mold to your feet over time, providing exceptional comfort. The flexible cork footbed and EVA outsole ensure durability and support, making them ideal for all-day wear. With over 45,000 five-star ratings, these sandals are a popular choice for those seeking comfort and value. Best of all? They're available for 40% off today on Amazon. Amazon The NYMPHY Outdoor Waterproof Solar Lights 4-Pack features 56 LEDs per light, offering three brightness settings (low, medium, high) to suit various outdoor needs. With an IP68 waterproof rating, these lights are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, including rain, snow, and temperatures ranging from -4°F to 140°F. They provide illumination for up to 20 hours, depending on sunlight exposure. Amazon The Keurig K-Duo Hot & Iced Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker offers versatile brewing options, accommodating both K-Cup pods and ground coffee. It features MultiStream Technology for enhanced flavor extraction and a 72oz water reservoir for fewer refills. Users can brew single cups or full carafes, with settings for hot, iced, strong, and extra-hot beverages. Amazon The Hisense 85-Inch Class QLED 4K CanvasTV transforms your living space into a dynamic art gallery when not in use. Featuring a 4K QLED display with Quantum Dot Color, Hi-Matte anti-glare screen, and a 144 Hz refresh rate, it delivers vibrant visuals and smooth motion. With Google TV integration, it offers access to over 700,000 movies and shows, along with personalized recommendations. Amazon The Nespresso Vertuo Next Coffee and Espresso Maker by De'Longhi offers a sleek, compact design and advanced brewing technology. Utilizing Centrifusion extraction, it spins capsules up to 7,000 RPM to create a rich crema. Compatible with five cup sizes, it features barcode-based automatic blend recognition. Best of all? It's available for 35% off today for a limited time only. Amazon Apple AirTags offer seamless item tracking with the Find My app. This 4-pack helps you locate keys, wallets, bags, or other essentials. Precision Finding works with iPhones, making lost items easier to track. Small, lightweight, and water-resistant, AirTags are a practical solution for everyday organization and peace of mind. Amazon Apple AirPods Pro 2 provide immersive audio with Active Noise Cancellation and Adaptive Transparency. The H2 chip enhances sound quality and battery life. Featuring a customizable fit and spatial audio, they're ideal for music, calls, and workouts. The MagSafe charging case adds convenience and improved device integration with Apple products. Amazon The DeWalt 20V MAX Cordless Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit delivers exceptional performance for both professionals and DIY enthusiasts. The brushless motor technology ensures longer runtime and durability, while the compact design allows access to tight spaces. With up to 1,700 in-lbs of torque, the impact driver handles demanding tasks efficiently. Both tools feature LED lights for improved visibility in low-light conditions. Amazon This stylish and durable beach bag from Simple Modern offers ample space for towels, sunscreen, snacks, and more. Featuring multiple pockets, it keeps items organized and easy to find. Its water-resistant design makes it perfect for poolside or beach use. Comfortable shoulder straps make carrying effortless and fashionable. Amazon The adidas Kaptir 3.0 blends athletic design with everyday comfort. Featuring a breathable knit upper and cushioned Cloudfoam midsole, it supports active lifestyles while maintaining a sleek, street-ready look. Perfect for workouts or casual wear, these shoes provide excellent comfort, grip, and style for all-day performance and versatility. Amazon The PlayStation DualSense Edge is a premium controller with customizable controls, mappable back buttons, and replaceable stick modules. Designed for competitive gamers, it enhances gameplay with precision and comfort. Adaptive triggers and haptic feedback provide immersive gameplay. Built-in profiles let you quickly switch setups, giving you a competitive edge. Amazon The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 offers powerful, eco-friendly energy for camping, emergencies, or outdoor work. Bundled with a 200W solar panel, it charges efficiently off-grid. With multiple output ports and a durable build, it powers laptops, fridges, and more — quietly and reliably. A must-have for sustainable energy use. Amazon The HP 15.6″ FHD Laptop is a reliable choice for everyday computing. Featuring a bright Full HD display, fast processor options, and ample storage, it's perfect for students or professionals. Lightweight and sleek, it offers smooth performance for multitasking, streaming, or productivity on the go at an affordable price. This article was written by P.J. McCormick, New York Post Commerce Deals Writer/Reporter. P.J. is an expert deal-finder, sifting through endless brands and retailers to deliver only the best savings opportunities on truly worthwhile products. P.J. finds Prime Day-worthy deals all year long on some of our favorite products we've tested and our readers' beloved best-sellers, from Wayfair furniture sales to the lowest prices on Apple AirPods. P.J. has been scouring sales for Post Wanted shoppers since 2022 and previously held positions at Rolling Stone, Pitchfork and Hyperallergic. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change. Hunting for a headline-worthy haul? Keep shopping with Post Wanted.
