2 men charged in alleged crypto torture case in SoHo, NYC plead not guilty
Share and Follow

NEW YORK — The two men charged in an alleged kidnapping and torture case in SoHo have pleaded not guilty to charges against them on Wednesday.

John Woeltz, 37, and William Duplessie, 32, who allegedly tortured a man in a luxe Manhattan townhouse to obtain his Bitcoin password, pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping, assault and coercion stemming from the alleged torture of a man in a luxe SoHo townhouse to obtain his cryptocurrency.

Judge Gregory Carro ordered them to remain held without bail through their next appearance July 15

A prosecutor, Sarah Kahn, showed the judge a photo that she said depicted the alleged victim on fire. She said the defendants would pour tequila on him, light him on fire, and then put the fire out – sometimes by urinating on him.

Woeltz and Duplessie pistol-whipped the victim with a gun, cut him with a small chainsaw, and used various other instruments as part of the torture, Kahn said.

She said prosecutors have had conversations with other, unnamed, law enforcement agencies that indicated Woeltz and Duplessie have tortured people before. She did not elaborate.

The defense pushed back, saying there is video of the alleged victim “having the time of his life,” and engaging in activity at odds with having been tortured.

The defense attorneys said they obtained a different video from an eyeglass store taken 36 hours before the alleged victim left the townhouse that purportedly shows him smoking a cigarette by himself on the street.

“The story that he is selling just doesn’t make sense,” defense attorney Sam Talkin, who represents Duplessie, told the judge.

Prosecutors have not seen the video and Kahn said, “Victims of abuse are not always going to ask in a way that we expect people to do.”

A search of the townhouse turned up cocaine, a saw, chicken wire, body armor, night vision goggles, ammunition and Polaroid photos of the victim with a gun pointed to his head, according to prosecutors.

(ABC News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Copyright © 2025 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Texas flooding: Searchers in helicopters and on horseback scour debris for the missing

Search operations for missing individuals in Texas flood aftermath conducted via helicopters and horseback riders.

HUNT, Texas — As the search in Texas continued Wednesday for more…
The trendy paint color renovation experts are warning against

Beware of These Trendy Paint Colors for Your Renovation – Expert Advice

Millennials have had a hard time getting on the property ladder, but…
Notorious 'Hillside Strangler' seeks freedom after decades behind bars despite expert warnings

Notorious ‘Hillside Strangler’ seeks freedom after decades behind bars despite expert warnings

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! One of the notorious…
US-backed Gaza aid group launches bold new system to deliver food directly to families

US-backed Gaza aid group launches bold new system to deliver food directly to families

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! EXCLUSIVE – Amid charges…
Grief-stricken mother demands 911 dispatcher reform

Mother who is overwhelmed with sorrow calls for changes to 911 dispatch system

Cheryl Collins dialed 911, begging for help to save her daughter’s life.…
Philadelphia workers and city reach a deal to end strike that halted residential trash pickup

Philadelphia workers and city reach a deal to end strike that halted residential trash pickup

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A union representing thousands…
Philadelphia workers strike ends as union reaches deal

Union in Philadelphia Reaches Deal Ending Workers’ Strike

PHILADELPHIA (WPHL) A tentative agreement has been reached between the City of…
Kennedy heir mocks grandma Jacqueline Onassis' pain in unhinged post

Grandson of Jacqueline Onassis makes insensitive remarks about her pain in a bizarre social media post

Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis’ wayward grandson has belittled the former first lady’s private…