Two men accused of torturing a crypto associate in a New York townhouse for $28 million pleaded not guilty as prosecutors revealed disturbing details and potential additional victims.
At a Glance
- John Woeltz and William Duplessie are charged with kidnapping, assault, and attempted extortion.
- Prosecutors allege the victim was held in a SoHo townhouse for over two weeks.
- The accused allegedly used a chainsaw, electricity, and fire in the torture.
- Defense lawyers claim the victim was seen socializing and leaving freely.
- Authorities also raided a linked Kentucky mansion with underground tunnels.
High-Stakes Crypto and Violent Coercion
Manhattan prosecutors allege that Woeltz and Duplessie orchestrated a brutal scheme to extract access to a Bitcoin wallet reportedly holding $28 million from a 28-year-old Italian man. According to the indictment, the victim was physically abused, shocked with electricity, and even set on fire with tequila in what has been described as a “crypto torture den” in SoHo. A Reuters report confirms that the alleged ordeal lasted from May 6 to May 23.
Watch a report: Men plead not guilty in NY to kidnapping, setting friend on fire with tequila for crypto.
Authorities believe the motive was to force the victim to relinquish control of his digital assets. Photos presented in court appear to show the victim restrained and injured, with additional evidence of forced drug use and psychological coercion. However, defense attorneys claim that the man was seen in public and in party footage, calling the claims “a fantasy.”
Expanding Case and Kentucky Connections
The case may widen as People reports that two additional individuals were also allegedly detained by the same suspects. Prosecutors believe this was not a one-off incident but part of a broader pattern of intimidation and abduction linked to cryptocurrency.
In a related operation, federal agents raided a $1 million mansion in Kentucky reportedly linked to the defendants. The New York Post details that the property contained underground tunnels and was purchased via a Wyoming-based LLC. Authorities are investigating whether this location was used for similar illegal activity or to launder proceeds.
The next court date is scheduled for July 15. Meanwhile, digital forensic teams are analyzing seized devices for further evidence of crypto-linked criminal operations.
