In New York, crypto investor John Wels was arrested on charges of kidnapping and torturing a 28-year-old Italian citizen in order to gain access to a BTC wallet.
The victim was held for several weeks in a rented house in Soho for $30,000 a month. He was beaten, subjected to electric shock, threatened with family harm, and even hung from upper floors. It is alleged that the perpetrator cut the victim's leg with a saw and forced him to smoke crack. What the hell...
The police found photographic evidence of the violence, including Polaroid pictures. The victim managed to escape and report to the police. Wels was arrested and charged with four criminal counts, including kidnapping for ransom. He pleaded not guilty. The court ordered him to be held without bail.
The next hearing is scheduled for May 28.