A cryptocurrency investor is facing charges for allegedly kidnapping and torturing a former Italian business partner for two weeks in a luxurious New York City townhouse. Authorities reported that the investor used a taser, chainsaw, and other brutal methods in a cruel scheme to steal the victim’s passwords.
John Woeltz, aged 37, was found wearing a robe and barefoot as he was handcuffed outside his residence in Manhattan’s SoHo area on Friday morning. His arrest followed the dramatic escape of his victim, who contacted the police for assistance.
Woeltz, who reportedly had previous business relationships with the 28-year-old victim, allegedly coaxed the individual to the townhouse on Princes Street on May 6. Once there, he seized the victim’s passport, restrained him, and subjected him to torture, aiming to extract valuable passwords. This information comes from police sources cited by the New York Post. In addition, a 24-year-old woman has been detained, according to police statements to Fox News.
John Woeltz, right, a cryptocurrency investor, has been charged after he allegedly kidnapped an Italian tourist and tortured him for two weeks — using a taser, chainsaw and other twisted methods. (Google Maps and WNYW)
Woeltz, who the Post reports is from Kentucky, has been charged with two counts of second-degree assault, one count of kidnapping and one count of unlawful imprisonment, police told Fox News.
Woeltz, a crypto entrepreneur an investor, was perp walked out of the 5th Precinct station last night wearing a white T-shirt and said nothing to screaming reporters.
A police officer outside the townhouse on Friday. (WCBS)
The victim was transported to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition.
The 24-year-old woman, Beatrice Folchi of Manhattan, has been charged with kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment.
“He looked like a decent guy,” one resident told Fox 5 describing Woeltz. “He just looked like a rich guy in a nice bathrobe, clean-shaven, hair was done. It didn’t look like police had a problem arresting him.
