In a harrowing incident that has raised concerns about the vulnerabilities tied to cryptocurrency, a second suspect, William Duplessie, 32, has been arrested in connection with the alleged kidnapping and torture of an Italian tourist in Manhattan. This ordeal, which reportedly spanned nearly three weeks, involved severe physical assaults as the assailants sought to extract the victim's Bitcoin wallet password.
Duplessie turned himself in to the authorities just days after his alleged accomplice, John Woeltz, 37, was arrested. Both men are accused of kidnapping with the intent to collect ransom, assault, unlawful imprisonment, and other grave charges. The victim managed to escape from a luxury SoHo residence where he was reportedly held captive, tortured, and bound.
After arriving in New York from Italy on May 6, the victim was allegedly stripped of his passport by Woeltz, who then held him captive for 17 days. During this time, the victim endured traumatic experiences including threats to his life and family, electrical shocks, and even attacks involving a chainsaw, as his captors demanded access to his cryptocurrency accounts.
He ultimately escaped on Friday morning, bloodied and barefoot, after conspiring to reveal his Bitcoin password. As they went to retrieve his laptop, he seized the opportunity to flee the eight-bedroom townhouse. Following his escape, the victim was treated in the hospital and reported the assaults to the police, prompting an investigation that uncovered horrifying evidence, including photographs of his torment and several firearms and drugs within the residence.
The case has brought to light a troubling trend in criminal activities tied to cryptocurrency; just recently, over 20 suspects were apprehended in France for similar kidnapping plots targeting crypto entrepreneurs. As these incidents multiply, experts are voicing alarm, suggesting that the lure of quick monetary gain through such high-stakes crimes is becoming increasingly appealing to criminals in today’s digital age.
