Crypto investor arrested, charged with brutal NYC kidnapping
Share this @internewscast.com

Authorities say it was part of a scheme to get his Bitcoin password and empty his virtual wallet.

NEW YORK — A cryptocurrency investor has been detained and accused of kidnapping a man, confining him for several weeks in an upscale Manhattan apartment. Authorities allege the victim was beaten, shocked, and manipulated into believing his family was in jeopardy if he didn’t reveal his Bitcoin password.

John Woeltz, 37, was apprehended on Friday night after the victim managed to escape from the eight-bedroom townhouse and sought assistance from a traffic officer, according to prosecutors.

Court records reveal that Woeltz was arraigned on Saturday, facing charges of kidnapping, assault, unlawful imprisonment, and criminal possession of a firearm. A spokesperson for the Manhattan district attorney’s office confirmed that he has been held without bail.

His lawyer, Wayne Gosnell, said Saturday in an email that he had no comment.

The 28-year-old victim arrived in New York City from Italy in early May, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official was not authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing investigation and did so on condition of anonymity.

It’s not clear how or if the two knew each other, but the district attorney’s office said in an email that prosecutor Michael Mattson told a judge Saturday that the victim, whose name has not been released, was abducted on May 6.

Mattson said others were involved in the scheme to empty the victim’s Bitcoin wallet. That includes a person referred to in court records as an “unapprehended male.”

The victim said he was bound by the wrists and tortured for weeks inside the apartment. His captors, according to prosecutors, drugged him, used electric wires to shock him, hit him in the head with a firearm and, at one point, carried him to the top of a flight of stairs where they dangled him over a ledge and threatened to kill him if he didn’t share his Bitcoin password.

Believing that he was about to be shot, the victim was able to escape Friday after telling Woeltz that he would give up his password, which was stored on his laptop in another room. When the suspect turned his back, Mattson said, the victim ran out of the apartment.

The victim was taken to a hospital and treated for injuries that Mattson said were consistent with his descriptions of being bound and assaulted.

A search of the town house 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.

Woeltz was ordered Saturday to surrender his passport. Prosecutors said he has the means to flee, including a private jet and a helicopter. He is due back in Manhattan criminal court next week.

Yamat reported from Las Vegas. Associated Press writers Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut, and Becky Bohrer in Juneau, Alaska, contributed to this report.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.     

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
JD Vance Crushes Lefties' Dreams After Democrats Release Alleged Trump-Epstein Birthday Note

JD Vance Disappoints Liberals by Dismissing Alleged Trump-Epstein Birthday Note Leaked by Democrats

Vice President JD Vance shattered the aspirations of leftists uniquely after House…
Trump saves American lives with ‘overwhelming force’ against drug smugglers encroaching on US beaches: expert

Expert Says Trump Protects American Lives by Forcefully Combating Drug Smugglers on US Beaches

As President Donald Trump ramps up efforts to combat drug trafficking groups,…
Containers falling off a cargo ship in California

Watch: Shocking Footage of Shipping Containers Falling from Cargo Ship in California

A dramatic video captures the incident where almost 70 shipping containers tumbled…
Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short talk about sleuthing skills and secrets in 'Only Murders in the Building' season 5

Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, and Martin Short discuss detective skills and hidden surprises in ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 5

Get your sleuthing skills ready. Season five of “Only Murders in the…
AP analysis: Presidents are taking longer to approve disaster aid. For some, the wait is agonizing

Analysis by AP: Delays in Presidential Approval of Disaster Aid Leave Many in Frustration

As a threatening storm loomed over Buddy Anthony’s new residence in Tylertown,…
DOJ charges man accused of killing refugee on North Carolina train with federal crime

Federal Charges Filed Against Suspect in Killing of Refugee on North Carolina Train

The Justice Department on Tuesday indicted a man with an extensive criminal…
Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas, DePaul University professor weigh in on Nation's Report Card

Ex-Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas and DePaul University Professor Discuss Nation’s Report Card

CHICAGO (WLS) — A local former education leader and college professor are…
Ghoreishi Fired by Levin's Stepson for Not Echoing Israel Policy

Levin’s Stepson Dismisses Ghoreishi for Diverging Stance on Israel Policy

Shahed Ghoreishi, a former State Department press officer, alleges he was fired…
Jacksonville council tensions rise amid budget debate and walkout

Tensions Escalate in Jacksonville Council During Budget Talks and Walkout

Jacksonville City Council’s meeting turned contentious as members debated amendments blocking funding…
7 A's of 'superaging' can make you feel decades younger: book

Discover How the 7 A’s of ‘Superaging’ Can Help You Feel Years Younger: A New Book Explores

It’s one for the agers! David Cravit and Larry Wolf, the minds…
Sex offender David Binz arrested in Jacksonville

David Binz, Sex Offender, Arrested in Jacksonville

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has arrested David Binz, featured in a viral…
Ukraine's defenses may collapse under escalating Russian attacks

Ukraine’s Defense Struggles Amid Intensifying Russian Assaults

Ukraine is facing the possibility of running low on air defense weapons…