A second suspect has been taken into custody for his involvement in the kidnapping and torture of an Italian man in Manhattan, along with crypto investor John Woeltz. William Duplessie, a 33-year-old from Miami, FL, turned himself in to police on May 27, following Woeltz’s arrest on Friday. Both Duplessie and Woeltz are facing charges of assault, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, and criminal possession of a firearm.
Reports suggest that Duplessie and Woeltz are business partners, with Duplessie listed as the co-founder of the Switzerland-based Pangaea Digital Asset Fund. The duo is believed to have kidnapped, tortured, and abused an Italian man in an attempt to gain access to his Bitcoin. The victim was lured to New York City on May 6 and was subjected to shocking and violent treatment, including being bound, shocked, cut, threatened with a gun, and even dangled over a ledge.
The Italian man managed to break free from captivity in a luxury Nolita apartment and sought help from a nearby traffic officer. It is unclear whether the victim was a business partner of Duplessie and Woeltz, although reports suggest a possible connection. Woeltz’s family revealed to The New York Post that he may have been manipulated by others, describing him as a kind and caring person who was controlled by external forces.
Woeltz is scheduled for a hearing on May 28, while Duplessie’s court appearance date remains unknown. The shocking incident has sent shockwaves through the crypto community, highlighting the dangers and risks associated with the industry. The post Crypto Kidnapping: 2nd Suspect Surrenders After Manhattan Bitcoin Torture Plot underscores the need for heightened security measures and vigilance within the crypto world.