Kidnappers apprehended after two-week ordeal torturing tourist in luxury NY mansion for Bitcoin access.

An unexpected incident involving an Italian tourist sprinting barefoot on a SoHo pavement has uncovered one of the most brutal cryptocurrency ransom schemes to hit New York City.

The arrest of 32-year-old William Duplessie has led police to charge two associates implicated in the kidnapping and severe mistreatment of a 28-year-old victim, who was held captive for 17 days in an upscale townhouse in an attempted extortion for access to his lucrative Bitcoin wallet.

A luxury residence turned torture site

Detectives have depicted an eight-bedroom estate on Prince Street that was leased for up to $40,000 monthly. Within its confines, authorities claim the victim endured terrifying abuse, including being dangled over a ledge, subjected to electric shocks, and threatened with a chainsaw. Investigators later seized Polaroid images documenting the assaults alongside various firearms and illicit substances.

Timeline of horror

• 6 May 2025 – The victim arrives from Italy, and his passport is confiscated.
• 6–23 May 2025 – A period of 17 days characterized by increasing violence and intimidation towards the victim’s family.
• 23 May 2025 – The victim makes a daring escape as the assailants search for his laptop.
• 24 May 2025 – The first suspect, John Woeltz, 37, is apprehended and formally charged.
• 27 May 2025 – Duplessie walks into an NYPD station and is taken into custody.

Who are Woeltz and Duplessie?

Woeltz, who refers to himself as a “crypto king” from Kentucky, and Duplessie, his longtime partner in business, are suspected of soliciting wealthy investors via a series of blockchain ventures. Prosecutors view both individuals as risks for flight, citing connections to offshore assets and businesses in Switzerland. They have been denied bail.

Security professionals caution that the SoHo incident signals a shift from mere digital theft to what insiders describe as “wrench attacks,” involving physical intimidation to extract private keys. The FBI reported approximately $9.3 billion in cryptocurrency-related losses in the US last year, with an increasing proportion linked to kidnappings and home invasions.

Just days prior, French law enforcement detained over 20 individuals connected to separate schemes aimed at cryptocurrency investors in Nantes and Paris. Investigators noted these operations followed a similar pattern: abduction, terrorization, and demands for wallet access credentials.

What lies ahead?

The Manhattan District Attorney is anticipated to bring the matter before a grand jury. In the meantime, legal experts foresee a surge in lawsuits directed at short-term rental services and renewed efforts to develop insurance options combining cyber protection with personal security coverage.

For cryptocurrency holders, the implications are stark. While hardware wallets and multi-signature protocols offer safeguards against online threats, real-world privacy concerning travel arrangements and rental locations might now distinguish between safeguarding digital wealth and facing potential danger from such ‘wrench attacks.’