Italian crypto torture victim came to NYC to reclaim bitcoin thieves stole under murder threat only to be then taken hostage: DA
The pair of hard-partying crypto bros accused of sadistically torturing an Italian millionaire lured him to New York City with the promise of returning Bitcoin they had allegedly stolen from him — only to then keep him hostage for weeks in a twisted bid to siphon the rest, prosecutors alleged.Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan, 28, had been forced to cough up the Bitcoin after John Woeltz and William Duplessie allegedly threatened to kill his family, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Amanda Blott revealed in court this week.The crypto crooks then allegedly told Carturan — who is worth some $30 million — he’d have to come back to the Big Apple if he wanted them to return the e-currency.Carturan, who is from Turin, was picked up from the airport by an off-duty NYPD detective doing security on the side, and brought to the duo’s 8-bedroom Prince Street home on May 6, according to sources and prosecutors.Woeltz and Duplessie allegedly grabbed his passport and cell phone and tied him to a chair, prosecutors said.
Carturan was imprisoned in the SoHo house of horrors and brutalized for 17 horrific days — until he broke free over the weekend, prosecutors said.The new details of the shocking torture case were revealed as Duplessie was arraigned in the case, and as prosecutors revealed Thursday they had secured an indictment against Woeltz, who was busted May 23 when Carturan made his escape.Sources also said that the cop who picked Carturan up at the airport and brought him to the SoHo pad had served as a member of Mayor Eric Adams’ security detail — and has now been placed on modified duty.A police search of the spacious townhouse uncovered Polaroid pics of the Italian trader’s torment, including one with a crack pipe shoved in his mount while being held down, and another showing him with a gun pointed at his head, the DA’s office said.Woeltz, 33, and Duplessie, 37, allegedly threatened to kill Carturan’s family again, and warned him that if he ...