Italian man tortured, held captive for 3 weeks over cryptocurrency: NYPD
Share and Follow


NEW YORK (PIX11) — A 28-year-old Italian man was held captive for three weeks in a Manhattan apartment over access to his multi-million-dollar cryptocurrency wallet.

The victim managed to escape from the Prince Street apartment early Thursday, after alerting an on-duty NYPD Traffic Agent, who called police.

According to police sources, all of the parties are involved in the crypto trading world. The man was taken captive after arriving at the apartment from Italy on May 6.

Over the next several weeks, police say the victim was tied to a chair with electrical cords, cut, tortured, and subjected to multiple forms of abuse. It also included an alleged extortion plot with the victim having a gun held to his head while suspects photographed him. 

He was also electrocuted with a taser while his feet were submerged in a bucket of water, police sources said. 

After escaping on Thursday morning, the victim was treated and released from a local hospital. 

Police responding to the scene entered the unlocked apartment and found ammunition, a firearm, cash, and broken furniture inside.

John Woeltz, 37, was found inside the residence wearing a bathrobe and was arrested.

Woeltz is charged with assault, kidnapping, and unlawful imprisonment.

One additional suspect remains at large, and a woman is in custody with charges pending.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Continued Government Shutdown Predicted to Increase Local Effects

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. () — The federal government is still in full…

Oktoberfest Wraps Up Sunday with Traditional Bavarian Farewell

MUNICH – The 190th Oktoberfest came to a close Sunday, wrapping up…

BVPD: Officer in Bristol, Va. Injured by Suspect’s Attack on Hand

BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL) — A man was arrested after allegedly slicing an…

‘Increasing Concern: Port Orange Residents Speak Out on Flooding Issues’

PORT ORANGE, Fla. – More rain this weekend means more flooding for…

The Impact of Trump and Infantino’s Friendship on the World Cup

WASHINGTON – The plan started coming together inside a luxury box at…

Man from Johnson City Faces Statutory Rape Charges

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — A Johnson City man has been charged…

OpenAI Teams Up with AMD for AI Infrastructure Chip Supply Partnership

FILE – The OpenAI logo appears on a mobile phone in front…

Bucs win against the Seahawks after facing them in Seattle

After becoming the first team in the Super Bowl era to have…