Latest news with #WilliamDuplessie
CTV News
6 days ago
- CTV News
Suspects in New York crypto kidnapping and torture case granted bail
John Woeltz, 37, appears for arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court on May 24, after he was arrested for allegedly holding an Italian tourist hostage in an apparent scheme to steal the man's cryptocurrency fortune. (Curtis Means/Pool/Reuters via CNN Newsource) Two men accused of torturing and holding a man hostage in a Manhattan townhouse for several weeks as they tried to access his cryptocurrency were granted bail Wednesday, according to updated case information. New York Supreme Criminal Court Judge Gregory Carro set bail at $1 million each for John Woeltz, 37, and William Duplessie, 33, who have been in custody since their arrest in May. Woeltz and Duplessie pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including kidnapping, assault and coercion. The 28-year-old victim, reportedly an Italian cryptocurrency trader, arrived in New York City from Italy in early May. He was abducted on May 6, police told CNN. It's not clear whether the victim knew the men who kidnapped him. Prosecutors said the unnamed victim was tortured for days, threatened with death and at one point dangled over a railing unless he revealed his Bitcoin password. When he refused, he was beaten, shocked with electric wires, and struck in the head with a firearm, they said. The accused also allegedly bound the man's wrists and threatened to kill his family, according to the Manhattan District Attorney. In late May, the victim escaped the apartment where he was allegedly being held after agreeing to provide his password, which was stored on his laptop in another room, prosecutors said. When one of the suspects turned his back, the victim fled the apartment and sought help from a traffic officer, police said. He was taken to a hospital and treated for injuries that prosecutor Michael Mattson said were consistent with his descriptions of being bound and assaulted, the Associated Press reported. Woeltz, a Kentucky native and cryptocurrency investor, was arrested after the victim's escape. Duplessie, a Miami resident, turned himself in the following week. A search of the townhouse turned up a trove of evidence, Mattson said, including cocaine, a saw, chicken wire, body armor and night vision goggles, ammunition, and polaroid photos of the victim with a gun pointed to his head, the AP reported. Inmate records show that, as of Wednesday evening, both men are still in custody. Their next court appearance will be scheduled for October 15. CNN has reached out to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office for further comment. By Karina Tsui, Kelly McCleary, CNN
CNN
6 days ago
- CNN
Suspects in New York crypto kidnapping case granted bail
Two men accused of torturing and holding a man hostage in a Manhattan townhouse for several weeks as they tried to access his cryptocurrency were granted bail Wednesday, according to updated case information. New York Supreme Criminal Court Judge Gregory Carro set bail at $1 million each for John Woeltz, 37, and William Duplessie, 33, who have been in custody since their arrest in May. Woeltz and Duplessie pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including kidnapping, assault and coercion. The 28-year-old victim, reportedly an Italian cryptocurrency trader, arrived in New York City from Italy in early May. He was abducted on May 6, police told CNN. It's not clear whether the victim knew the men who kidnapped him. Prosecutors said the unnamed victim was tortured for days, threatened with death and at one point dangled over a railing unless he revealed his Bitcoin password. When he refused, he was beaten, shocked with electric wires, and struck in the head with a firearm, they said. The accused also allegedly bound the man's wrists and threatened to kill his family, according to the Manhattan District Attorney. In late May, the victim escaped the apartment where he was allegedly being held after agreeing to provide his password, which was stored on his laptop in another room, prosecutors said. When one of the suspects turned his back, the victim fled the apartment and sought help from a traffic officer, police said. He was taken to a hospital and treated for injuries that prosecutor Michael Mattson said were consistent with his descriptions of being bound and assaulted, the Associated Press reported. Woeltz, a Kentucky native and cryptocurrency investor, was arrested after the victim's escape. Duplessie, a Miami resident, turned himself in the following week. A search of the townhouse turned up a trove of evidence, Mattson said, including cocaine, a saw, chicken wire, body armor and night vision goggles, ammunition, and polaroid photos of the victim with a gun pointed to his head, the AP reported. Inmate records show that, as of Wednesday evening, both men are still in custody. Their next court appearance will be scheduled for October 15. CNN has reached out to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office for further comment. CNN's John Miller, Gloria Pazmino and Mark Morales contributed to this report.
CNN
6 days ago
- CNN
Suspects in New York crypto kidnapping case granted bail
Two men accused of torturing and holding a man hostage in a Manhattan townhouse for several weeks as they tried to access his cryptocurrency were granted bail Wednesday, according to updated case information. New York Supreme Criminal Court Judge Gregory Carro set bail at $1 million each for John Woeltz, 37, and William Duplessie, 33, who have been in custody since their arrest in May. Woeltz and Duplessie pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including kidnapping, assault and coercion. The 28-year-old victim, reportedly an Italian cryptocurrency trader, arrived in New York City from Italy in early May. He was abducted on May 6, police told CNN. It's not clear whether the victim knew the men who kidnapped him. Prosecutors said the unnamed victim was tortured for days, threatened with death and at one point dangled over a railing unless he revealed his Bitcoin password. When he refused, he was beaten, shocked with electric wires, and struck in the head with a firearm, they said. The accused also allegedly bound the man's wrists and threatened to kill his family, according to the Manhattan District Attorney. In late May, the victim escaped the apartment where he was allegedly being held after agreeing to provide his password, which was stored on his laptop in another room, prosecutors said. When one of the suspects turned his back, the victim fled the apartment and sought help from a traffic officer, police said. He was taken to a hospital and treated for injuries that prosecutor Michael Mattson said were consistent with his descriptions of being bound and assaulted, the Associated Press reported. Woeltz, a Kentucky native and cryptocurrency investor, was arrested after the victim's escape. Duplessie, a Miami resident, turned himself in the following week. A search of the townhouse turned up a trove of evidence, Mattson said, including cocaine, a saw, chicken wire, body armor and night vision goggles, ammunition, and polaroid photos of the victim with a gun pointed to his head, the AP reported. Inmate records show that, as of Wednesday evening, both men are still in custody. Their next court appearance will be scheduled for October 15. CNN has reached out to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office for further comment. CNN's John Miller, Gloria Pazmino and Mark Morales contributed to this report.
New York Post
7 days ago
- New York Post
Accused NYC crypto bro kidnappers granted $1M bail — but judge warns they can't pay in Bitcoin
The crypto bros accused of torturing an Italian millionaire for his Bitcoin password were granted $1 million bail each Wednesday — but won't be allowed to pay it using e-currency. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Gregory Carro set the seven-figure bail for John Woeltz, 37, and William Duplessie, 33, and forbade them from paying it in cryptocurrency. Both Woeltz and Duplessie will be released from jail to home confinement if they can shell out the cold hard non-digital cash, said Carro. Advertisement William Duplessie arraigned in Manhattan Supreme court for torturing an Italian millionaire for his Bitcoin password. Steven Hirsch John Woeltz (pictured), 37, and William Duplessie, 33, pleaded not guilty to kidnapping. Steven Hirsch Woelz, who rented the SoHo townhouse that prosecutors allege turned into a house of horrors, is looking for a place in New York, his lawyer said. Duplessie will seek a place in Florida. Advertisement The pair has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping charges after prosecutors said they held fellow cryptocurrency trader Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan, who hails from Italy, captive for nearly three weeks in the rented Prince Street townhouse.
ABC News
27-06-2025
- ABC News
A wild binge, or a friendship turned to torture? Inside NYC's crypto kidnapping case
Late last month, a bloodied and barefoot man ran from a townhouse in New York's affluent Northern Little Italy neighbourhood. WARNING: This story contains details that some readers might find distressing. Hailing the attention of a traffic officer, he would recount an alleged tale of weeks-long torture and kidnapping. The apparent purpose? To obtain his million-dollar crypto wallet. Now, as the two men charged with his kidnapping and assault plead not guilty, conflicting reports paint a more complex picture. Was the man a victim of alleged greed or a willing participant in a wild bender? The alleged victim, a 28-year-old Italian national, hasn't been named by officials but prosecutors say the defendants have known him for years. They say the duo, John Woeltz, 37, and William Duplessie, 32, lured the man to the luxury townhouse by threatening to kill his family. It was the third time the pair had allegedly tried to meet the man in person and coerce him into giving away his devices and cryptocurrency logins. However, prosecutors say it was here where things took a significantly more violent turn. During the 17 days the man was held hostage, he was subject to beatings, electrocutions and being set alight, prosecutors allege. Police say they located photographs from the crime scene where Mr Woeltz and Mr Duplessie pointed a gun at the man's head. In another picture, the accused are allegedly seen setting the man on fire after dousing him with tequila. When prodded by the judge as to why the man didn't sustain injuries, Assistant District Attorney Sarah Khan said the defendants would quickly extinguish the flame — sometimes by urinating on him. Police searching the townhouse say they found evidence that could corroborate this — including a loaded pistol, chainsaw, cocaine, and night vision goggles. In his account to police, the Italian national also alleged the pair forced him to smoke from a crack pipe, and at one point, dangled him from a staircase five stories high. He says it was only when he agreed to hand over his computer password, stored in another room, that he had the chance to flee. Meanwhile, lawyers for Mr Duplessie and Mr Woeltz have already laid out a far less grisly story, and say the alleged victim's narrative is "entirely false". Instead, he was "having the time of his life" and even taking part in a "sex orgy" while at the townhouse, Mr Duplessie's lawyer, Sanford Talkin, said. The pair's lawyers argued videos showed the accuser participating in group sex and smoking crack cocaine while "laughing and smiling the whole time". In other photos, Mr Talkin said, the alleged victim is seen visiting an eyeglass store with one of the defendants and could have fled or sought help at any time. "The story that he is selling doesn't make sense," Mr Talkin told the courtroom in the pair's formal arraignment. Mr Woeltz's lawyer, Wayne Gosnell, added that witnesses told him the man came and went as he pleased — going to church, clubs and dinners. "He could have talked to any passer-by and told them, 'I'm in trouble, I need help,'" Mr Gosnell told the Manhattan judge. Ms Khan argued someone who supported Mr Woeltz and Mr Duplessie was selectively leaking videos to present a counter-narrative. In reality, she said, the accuser was constantly watched and wasn't permitted to leave the house without being guarded. Both Mr Woeltz and Mr Duplessie are crypto investors who were renting the New York townhouse for approximately $45,900 to $61,200 a month. Mr Woeltz, who grew up in small-town Kentucky, was dubbed the "crypto king of Kentucky". He was a former board member of Sprocket, a nonprofit entrepreneurship hub in his hometown of Paducah. As details came to light, the organisation released a statement saying it was a "difficult and confusing time" for those who knew Mr Woeltz. "These allegations are deeply troubling and feel profoundly out of character from the person we came to know," the statement said. Mr Duplessie similarly has long-time ties to the financial entrepreneurial world. A now-deleted webpage credits Mr Duplessie as a CEO and co-founder of a liquidated blockchain fund, archived records show. The Switzerland-based firm labelled itself a "leader in the field of distressed blockchain companies". According to The New York Times, Mr Duplessie was also sued this year for "violently" rear-ending another car while driving a 2016 Porsche Cayman in Miami. Furthermore, he has received eight traffic violations in Miami since December 2021, according to the publication. Lawyers for the pair sought to release them on $US1 million ($1.5 million) bail in early June — which was denied. They rejected suggestions their clients could flee the US. Mr Duplessie's lawyer said his client was "so far from a flight risk". Both face life in prison if convicted on the charges of kidnapping, assault, unlawful imprisonment and criminal possession of a weapon. To date, their alleged victim hadn't received his money or electronic devices back, prosecutors told the court. ABC/Wires
