William Duplessie and John Woeltz, the two individuals accused of orchestrating the Bitcoin torture plot in New York City earlier this year, have been granted $1 million bail each this week in connection with the NYC crypto torture case, as reported by ABC News.
According to the report on July 24, Judge Gregory Carro, who is also overseeing the case against alleged UnitedHealthcare assassin Luigi Mangione, approved bail for Duplessie and Woeltz as the evidence review process continues.
Duplessie will be confined to a residence in Miami, while Woeltz will be staying at an undisclosed location in New York. Both suspects will be required to wear ankle monitors during their confinement.
The duo was initially charged with coercion, assault, and kidnapping last month in relation to the alleged crypto torture incident. The case made headlines when a 28-year-old victim flagged down a police officer in SoHo, claiming he had been held captive for weeks.
Duplessie and Woeltz are accused of subjecting the victim to various forms of abuse, including binding, shocking, cutting, and threatening him with a gun in an attempt to access his Bitcoin at a luxury townhouse.
Despite the charges, both defendants have pleaded not guilty, asserting that the victim was not held against his will and even socialized during his alleged captivity.
During a recent hearing, prosecutor Sania Khan emphasized that victims of abuse may not always exhibit expected behaviors.
The scandal has also implicated Mayor Eric Adams, as two officers from his private security detail were placed on modified duty for allegedly transporting the victim from the airport to the captors’ residence.
In response to the allegations, the mayor’s office issued a statement affirming that all city employees, including officers, are expected to adhere to the law both on and off duty. The officers in question were placed on modified duty as soon as the allegations surfaced.
As of now, a trial date for the case has not been scheduled.
The development in the NYC crypto torture case, with Duplessie and Woeltz being granted million-dollar bail, underscores the complexity and gravity of the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the shocking incident in the heart of Manhattan.