Two self-described “crypto bros” living large in a swanky 8-bedroom SoHo townhouse are now facing serious charges of kidnapping and torture, after allegedly detaining and brutally assaulting an Italian man for over two weeks — all in a twisted bid to gain access to his Bitcoin fortune.
A Chilling Escape and Disturbing Discovery
The shocking case came to light when Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan, 28, barefoot and covered in blood, approached a traffic cop on the street and claimed he had just escaped a torturous captivity. His desperate plea prompted an immediate police response and launched a deeper investigation into a harrowing ordeal.
The Alleged Masterminds: John Woeltz and William Duplessie
Authorities say John Woeltz (33) — also known as the self-styled “Crypto King of Kentucky” — and William Duplessie (37) lured Carturan to New York under the false promise of helping him recover previously stolen cryptocurrency. Once in NYC, Carturan was picked up at the airport by an off-duty NYPD officer, reportedly hired by the suspects, and driven straight to the Prince Street property where the nightmare began.
17 Days of Horror
Prosecutors allege that once inside the townhouse, the suspects:
- Confiscated Carturan’s passport and electronic devices
- Bound his wrists and legs
- Pistol-whipped and electrocuted him
- Cut his leg with a saw
- Forced him to smoke crack cocaine
- Threatened to shoot him and his family
- Hung him over a stairwell ledge
Even more disturbing — investigators say they found Polaroids of Carturan with a gun pointed at his head, along with T-shirts printed with images of him smoking from a crack pipe.
An AirTag was allegedly tied around his neck with chicken wire, possibly to track or further intimidate him.
Bloody Evidence and an NYPD Link
Carturan eventually tricked Woeltz into going upstairs to retrieve a laptop, then made a run for it, escaping the townhouse and flagging down help. His escape and frantic request for assistance were caught on camera.
A subsequent search of the property revealed:
- Blood stains in torture locations
- Crack cocaine and body armor
- A saw and chicken wire
- Firearm ammunition
- The disturbing photos and shirts mentioned above
Adding another layer of controversy, the NYPD officer who picked up Carturan from the airport is reportedly part of Mayor Eric Adams’ security detail — and is now under investigation.
Charges and Current Status
Both Woeltz and Duplessie have been charged in a sealed indictment with kidnapping and torture, though neither has entered a plea yet. Woeltz was arrested at the townhouse on May 23, while Duplessie surrendered to police on May 28.
Carturan is currently recovering at Bellevue Hospital from extensive injuries.
This case reads like something out of a true-crime thriller — only it’s terrifyingly real, and unfolding in one of New York City’s most luxurious neighborhoods.
