A 33 – year – old man named William Duplessie surrendered to the New York Police Department (NYPD) on May 27, 2025. He is the third individual arrested in the NYC crypto torture and kidnapping case.
Duplessie is suspected of being involved in the kidnapping, torture, and attempted extortion of a 28 – year – old Italian tourist, Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan, in Manhattan. Carturan was lured to an apartment on Prince Street in SoHo by John Woeltz, a Kentucky – based cryptocurrency investor, on May 6. Woeltz and Duplessie are believed to have connections to a New York – based cryptocurrency hedge fund.
Carturan was held captive for nearly three weeks and subjected to physical and psychological abuse, including being beaten, hung from the top floor of a five – story building, threatened with a gun, shocked with a Taser, and having his feet submerged in water while being tased. The suspects aimed to force him to reveal the keys to his Bitcoin wallet. Carturan managed to escape on May 23 and alerted the police.
Woeltz was arrested on May 24 and charged with kidnapping for ransom, assault, false imprisonment, and illegal possession of a firearm. He is currently in custody without bail. Beatrice Folchi, a 24 – year – old woman who was also arrested in connection with the case, has been released as the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has decided not to prosecute her for the time being, pending further investigation.
Duplessie negotiated his surrender with the NYPD over several days before his arrest. He will be charged with “kidnapping and false imprisonment of an associate,” according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
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