Shocking NYC Bitcoin Torture: Italian Millionaire Kidnapped and Brutally Abused in Hunt for Crypto Password
A terrifying crypto crime has rocked New York City, where an Italian millionaire was allegedly kidnapped and tortured in a desperate attempt to steal his Bitcoin fortune.
Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan, a wealthy crypto investor, was lured to Manhattan by two men promising to help him recover stolen Bitcoin. Instead, prosecutors say he was imprisoned and subjected to horrific abuse for over two weeks in a SoHo townhouse.
John Woeltz, 33, and William Duplessie, 37, both known in the crypto world, allegedly held Carturan captive, forcing him to give up his Bitcoin wallet password through violent means. According to court documents, the men took his passport and devices, bound his wrists, and tortured him repeatedly—including pistol-whipping, electric shocks, and even cutting his leg with a saw.
The victim’s family was also threatened, and Carturan was forced to smoke crack cocaine while an AirTag was chained around his neck to track him.
In a desperate bid for freedom, Carturan managed to escape by running out the door barefoot and flagging down a police officer, who immediately called 911. His bloodied and bruised appearance shocked the city.
Authorities later raided the townhouse and found evidence of the brutal torture: saws, crack pipes, body armor, ammunition, and chilling photos showing Carturan in captivity.
Adding to the scandal, an off-duty NYPD detective, hired by the suspects, allegedly drove Carturan from the airport to the site of his imprisonment. This officer, who is part of the mayor’s security detail, is now under investigation.
Both Woeltz and Duplessie face serious charges including kidnapping and torture. The case exposes the dark side of the booming crypto world, reminding us that behind the digital money, real dangers lurk.
