Crypto kidnapping: William Duplessie, John Woeltz 'Kentucky crypto king' surrender in torture of business partner in NYC apartment
Share this @internewscast.com

NEW YORK — A second crypto suspect has surrendered for the alleged torture of an Italian businessman in New York, police said Tuesday.

The suspect, William Duplessie, surrendered to detectives at the 13th precinct at 7:45 a.m.

Duplessie is expected to face charges of kidnapping, assault and unlawful imprisonment.

The first suspect, John Woeltz, was held without bail when he was arraigned Saturday morning, and forced to surrender his passport.

He has been charged with assault, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, and criminal possession of a firearm.

His next court date is scheduled for May 28.

Authorities apprehended and charged two individuals, one being Woeltz, regarding the incident at a SoHo apartment on Friday. It has been reported that Woeltz resided at the location on Prince Street.

Another suspect, a female, was also arrested but was not charged.

According to the police, the apartment on Prince Street became a gruesome site after a group allegedly enticed a former business associate back from Italy in order to obtain a password for his cryptocurrency account, subsequently detaining and tormenting him for several weeks.

Woeltz, who is involved in the cryptocurrency sector, was arrested barefoot and in a bathrobe on Friday, following the 28-year-old victim’s successful escape that morning, during which he sought assistance from a traffic officer.

Police descended on the opulent brownstone on Prince Street as detectives tried to make sense of the depraved story they heard from the victim, who said he’d been held captive for weeks.

The 28-year-old victim told police he arrived from Italy on May 6 and went to the home on Prince Street.

He told detectives they had taken his passport and tortured him for the last two weeks.

Police said the group was looking to extort him for millions in crypto after luring him back from Italy.

Investigators said they tied him up with electrical cords and tortured him with electrocutions and other types of shock treatment.

They also allegedly tased him with his feet in water, pistol-whipped him, and threatened to cut his limbs off with an electric chainsaw.

Police said they took Polaroids of themselves torturing him, one showing him bound to a chair with a gun to his head. The Polaroids were likely to extort money, either from the victim or his family back in Italy.

They also allegedly forced him to take drugs, like cocaine, and used other psychological torture, telling him he would never escape. They also allegedly put an AirTag around his neck to know where he was in the building, where he had limited mobility.

Police said the victim saw his opportunity to escape Friday morning because the men allegedly indicated it would be his death day.

When police arrived, they found one resident in an upstairs bathroom, wearing a bathrobe. They took him into custody and are looking for several others who were living in the house.

“I saw the SWAT team with shields and then shortly after that, I saw a guy in handcuffs come out,” said Jennifer Crawford, an eyewitness to the arrest.

A man from Italy said a crypto entrepreneur took his passport and held him captive.

“The guy comes out in a white bathrobe and cuffed behind his back gets into a police car,” said eyewitness Ciaran Tully.

Police said the inside of the house was trashed with broken glass, helmets, night vision goggles, and a bulletproof vest in plain sight. Investigators found a saw, crack cocaine, blood, bullets, and a gun, along with Polaroids of the victim with a gun to his head.

Police then found a gun and requested a search warrant for a more detailed search.

The victim sustained numerous cuts on his body from the torture, including one believed to be from the chainsaw, and is being treated at Bellevue Hospital, police said.

Police said the 8-bedroom, 10 bathroom home was rented for $30,000 to $40,000 a month. It sits back from the sidewalk on the busy block of Prince Street in SoHo.

It was rented just a couple of months ago, with the most recent listing price at $75,000 per month.

Detectives are interviewing two butlers who were at the home and worked for the suspect.

Sidewalk vendor Ciaran Tully has been watching that house for months and said something has been off; he just never knew what.

“I’ve seen people go in and out all the time, and never really ever saw the same person twice. So we were wondering like, what was going on in there?” Tully said.

The investigation is ongoing.

Copyright © 2025 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Black History Month 2026: A push for more foster parents in families of color from foster care advocates

Black History Month 2026: Advocates Call for Increased Representation of Families of Color in Foster Parenting

CHICAGO (WLS) — Children often find themselves in difficult situations through no…
Brawl erupts in Ohio courtroom after judge hands down reduced sentence for teen killer

Outrage in Ohio: Courtroom Chaos Erupts Over Reduced Sentence for Teen Killer

Tempers flared and chaos unfolded in an Ohio courtroom when two families…
Terrifying moment caught on camera as road collapse suddenly swallows vehicles at busy intersection

Shocking Footage Captures Road Collapse Engulfing Cars at Bustling Intersection

Dramatic footage captured the heart-stopping moment when a roadway gave way beneath…
The heartbreaking reason Florida man, 80, allegedly killed his wife

Tragic Tale: Florida Octogenarian Allegedly Ends Wife’s Life in Heartbreaking Turn of Events

In a tragic incident, an elderly man from Florida is accused of…
Ex-Air Force pilot arrested for allegedly training Chinese military pilots without authorization

Former U.S. Air Force Pilot Detained for Illegally Coaching Chinese Military Aviators

A former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot has been arrested on charges…
Ranking of LA's ‘friendliest’ neighborhoods

Los Angeles Neighborhoods Ranked by Friendliness

Is your community among the friendliest in Los Angeles? According to newly…
American Airlines jet lands in Miami with bullet holes after trip to Colombia

American Airlines Aircraft Arrives in Miami with Bullet Holes After Colombia Flight

In a recent incident, bullet holes were discovered on the wing of…
Treasury sanctions Iran's petroleum 'shadow fleet,' ballistic missile networks

Treasury Targets Iran’s Covert Oil Fleet and Ballistic Missile Networks with New Sanctions

The U.S. Treasury Department took decisive action on Wednesday, imposing sanctions on…
American released from Indonesia jail after serving 11 years for 'suitcase murder' as US case looms

American Freed After 11 Years in Indonesia for ‘Suitcase Murder’ Awaits U.S. Legal Proceedings

In a dramatic turn of events, an American man who spent over…
Ukraine to meet Trump envoys ahead of high-stakes Geneva talks with Russia as war enters fifth year

Ukraine Prepares for Crucial Geneva Talks with Russia: Key Meeting with Trump Envoys Ahead

Russia-Ukraine war enters fifth year Fox News’ esteemed senior foreign affairs correspondent,…
Tires slashed on 7 NYPD Strategic Response Group cop cars parked in Brooklyn

Vandalism Strike: NYPD Strategic Response Group’s Fleet Targeted with Tire Slashings in Brooklyn

In a bold act of vandalism, seven NYPD vehicles belonging to the…
Minnesota middle school teaches 8th graders ICE 'harassed' migrants in geography class curriculum

Controversial Curriculum: Minnesota Middle School’s Geography Lesson on ICE Sparks Debate

In a recent incident at a Minnesota middle school, an 8th-grade geography…