A New York City cryptocurrency investor has been arrested and charged with kidnapping, assault, and unlawful imprisonment after allegedly detaining and torturing a 28-year-old man for three weeks in a luxury Manhattan townhouse in an attempt to obtain his Bitcoin password, according to prosecutors.
Authorities alleged that John Woeltz, 37, lured the victim, an Italian tourist who had recently arrived in New York, by promising to return previously extorted Bitcoin. On May 6, Woeltz and an unnamed accomplice confiscated the victim’s passport and electronic devices and then held him captive in an eight-bedroom townhouse in Soho.
Prosecutors said the victim was subjected to a series of abuses, including being electrocuted with wires, pistol-whipped, coerced into using cocaine, and threatened with violence against his family if he did not provide access to his cryptocurrency wallet.
The victim was reportedly bound at the wrists, assaulted repeatedly, and at one point, held over a staircase while being threatened with death.
After nearly three weeks in captivity, the victim managed to escape on Friday.
He convinced Woeltz that he would reveal his Bitcoin password, which he claimed was stored on his laptop in another room. When Woeltz turned his back, the victim ran barefoot and bloodied from the townhouse and flagged down a traffic officer for help.
The victim was taken to a hospital, where medical staff documented injuries consistent with his account, including trauma, facial lacerations, and wrist injuries from being bound.
A search of the townhouse uncovered a cache of evidence, including cocaine, a saw, chicken wire, body armour, night vision goggles, ammunition, and Polaroid photos of the victim with a gun pointed at his head.
Neighbours reported that the residence was known for loud parties.
Woeltz was arraigned on Saturday and charged with kidnapping, assault, unlawful imprisonment, and illegal possession of a firearm.
Prosecutors argued that Woeltz poses a significant flight risk due to his ownership of a private jet and helicopter.
He is being held without bail.
Authorities have identified an unapprehended male accomplice involved in the scheme, and investigations are ongoing.
Another individual, Beatrice Folchi, identified as Woeltz’s assistant, was also arrested in connection with the incident, though charges against her are pending further investigation.
