Suspect Arrested in Disturbing Crypto Torture Incident in Manhattan

William Duplessie, 32, was arrested for allegedly participating in the torture and kidnapping of an Italian tourist in Manhattan, aimed at stealing his cryptocurrency. This follows the arrest of his accomplice, John Woeltz, and highlights a troubling rise in crypto-related crimes.

In a chilling incident that has sent shockwaves through the tech and law enforcement communities, a second suspect has been arrested in connection with the alleged kidnapping and torture of an Italian tourist in a luxurious Manhattan residence. Authorities report that William Duplessie, 32, surrendered to police on Tuesday, while co-suspect John Woeltz, 37, was arrested last week. The two men are accused of abducting the unnamed victim in a bid to forcibly extract his cryptocurrency holdings.

The harrowing account detailed by the victim to law enforcement includes a range of horrific abuses, such as being dangled from a roof ledge, subjected to electric shocks, and even menaced with a chainsaw as his captors demanded access to his Bitcoin wallet. Both Duplessie and Woeltz are facing severe charges including kidnapping with intent to extort ransom, assault, and unlawful imprisonment.

The crime unfolded over approximately three weeks in Woeltz's rented SoHo home, where the price tag reportedly ranges from $30,000 to $40,000 per month. Luck was on the victim's side when he managed to escape from the eight-bedroom property on Friday morning, bloodied and barefoot, after ostensibly telling the suspects he would provide his Bitcoin password. When they left to fetch his laptop, he seized the opportunity to flee and subsequently reported the ordeal to the police.

A search of the residence revealed grim evidence, including Polaroid photographs capturing the victim in compromising positions, alongside firearms and illegal drugs. The attack and its shocking details have prompted conversations about the growing trend of abductions related to cryptocurrency—a crime that defense attorney David Seltzer describes as increasingly prevalent.

In parallel developments, authorities in France have arrested over 20 individuals implicated in various kidnapping schemes targeting cryptocurrency professionals and their families, with instances reported in Nantes and a separate attempted abduction in Paris. These incidents underscore the alarming reality that criminals are leveraging cryptocurrency's allure as a new avenue for ransom and theft.