A disturbing kidnapping case has surfaced in New York, involving two men accused of holding a 28-year-old Italian crypto investor hostage for 17 days in a Soho townhouse, all in an attempt to force access to his bitcoin wallet.

🔹 Accusations Involving Torture and Ransom

The suspects – William Duplessie (32) and John Woeltz (37) – allegedly lured the victim under threats to his family. Prosecutors claim the men tortured the victim with electrical wires, forced him to smoke crack cocaine, and at one point hung him upside down from a five-story staircase. After being pistol-whipped, the victim managed to escape barefoot into the streets of Manhattan and flag down a nearby officer.

A search of the townhouse uncovered a saw, drugs, body armor, night vision goggles, ammunition, and Polaroid photos of the victim with a gun pointed at his head.

🔹 No Bail for Main Suspects

Duplessie and Woeltz are charged with kidnapping, assault, weapons possession, and conspiracy.

Duplessie turned himself in and requested $1 million bail, which was denied due to the severity of the case. Woeltz also remains in custody after his $2 million bail request was rejected.

Woeltz’s lawyer claimed his client had no criminal record and had achieved success in the tech sector, but the judge remained unconvinced.

🔹 Third Person Released

A third person, Beatrice Folchi, was also arrested and charged with first-degree kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment. She was released pending further investigation.

The next court appearance for Duplessie and Woeltz is scheduled for June 11. Prosecutors have called the residence a “house of horrors.”

🧠 Crypto Owners Advised to Strengthen Personal Security

This case is part of a growing pattern of “key-related attacks”, where criminals physically coerce access to cryptocurrency holdings. Security professionals are increasingly warning about the risks of keeping large crypto balances easily accessible. Users are urged to utilize cold storage wallets and avoid discussing their holdings publicly.

Reader Question: Would you feel safe if someone knew how much crypto you hold? How do you protect your digital assets?




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