Crypto investor faces severe charges after brutal kidnapping in Manhattan

In the heart of Manhattan, a chilling crime has unfolded. A cryptocurrency investor, John Woeltz, is now in serious trouble. He is accused of some very bad things. He was arrested for kidnapping and torturing a man. The victim was held captive for weeks in a fancy townhouse. The reason? To get access to his Bitcoin. Woeltz, a 37-year-old from Kentucky, was caught outside the luxurious rental. The victim, an Italian national, told police about the horrors he faced. He was severely beaten, drugged, and even shocked with electrical wires. At one point, he was dangled over a ledge. The captors wanted the password to his digital assets. Woeltz's alleged partner in crime, William Duplessie, turned himself in to the police. He is also facing charges. At a recent hearing, Woeltz's lawyer asked for his client to be released on a $2 million bond. The lawyer argued that Woeltz has no criminal record and has had success in the tech world. He also mentioned Woeltz's philosophy degree and professional achievements. The judge, however, denied bail for Woeltz. The lawyer also requested that Woeltz not be forced to give up his legally owned firearms in Kentucky. He disputed claims that his client owned a private jet and helicopter. The lawyer argued that Woeltz had no way to flee. The victim was lured to the townhouse on May 6. He was threatened with the lives of his family members. For 17 days, he was held captive. The captors used electrical wires to torture him, forced him to smoke from a crack pipe, and even dangled him from a staircase five stories high. Eventually, he gave in and handed over his computer password. He managed to escape as his captors went to retrieve the device. He fled the home, bloodied and shoeless, according to police. A search of the townhouse revealed some disturbing items. Cocaine, a saw, chicken wire, body armor, night vision goggles, ammunition, and Polaroid photos of the victim with a gun pointed to his head were found. This case raises serious questions about the lengths some people will go to for cryptocurrency. It also highlights the dark side of the crypto world, where fortunes can be made and lost in an instant. The case is a stark reminder that even in the most upscale neighborhoods, crime can happen. It is a chilling tale of greed, violence, and the lengths some will go to for power and wealth.