Accused Crypto Financier Detained for Alleged Kidnapping and Torment of an Italian Traveler
Crime Takes the Crypto Scene by Storm
A chilling story unfolds in the heart of New York City, as a crypto investor finds himself behind bars for alleged kidnapping and torture of an Italian tourist. John Woeltz, 37, residing in Kentucky, was apprehended in a luxurious Nolita apartment—the scene of the horrifying incident.
The victim, a 28-year-old man yet to be named by authorities, was reported to have been imprisoned for two weeks within Woeltz's swanky abode. Escaping from captivity, he confided in a nearby traffic officer who immediately alerted the police—leading to Woeltz's arrest, as reported by various news outlets.
The initial encounter between the two took place on May 6th, when the tourist arrived in the bustling city, a detail widely covered by the New York Post. Post the meeting, the man endured a harrowing ordeal, allegedly involving various forms of torture. Some outlets hint at a potential connection between the victim and Woeltz's former business partner.
Woeltz faced arraignment on Saturday morning, charged with assault, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, and criminal possession of a firearm, as reported by CNN. Currently, he's being detained without bail.
The circumstances surrounding the case remain vague. The New York Times reports the arrest of a 24-year-old woman, Beatrice Folchi, along with Woeltz, charged with similar offences. However, Folchi was seen on the streets of New York shortly after her arrest, denying the allegations to the New York Post. "I will speak about everything with a lawyer; I cannot make any comments right now," she stated. Another unidentified man, tagged by the police as an "unapprehended male," is also suspected to have participated in the heinous acts—his identity remains undisclosed.
Upon the tourist's arrival at the apartment, Woeltz allegedly pilfered the man's passport and mobile device. Confronted with this, the victim was interrogated, supposedly by Woeltz and an unidentified male, seeking access to his crypto wallet password. When the man refused, they reportedly subjected him to unimaginable torture methods, as stated in numerous reports.
Police recovered Polaroids from the apartment depicting the victim bound with electrical tape and even a gun pointed at his head. They also found a firearm within the apartment. Sources close to the investigation have divulged additional unsettling information about the ordeal—claims including but not limited to:
- The victim endured electric cord binding, electric shocks, pistol whipping, forced cocaine ingestion, and threats of dismemberment with an electric chainsaw.
- The traumatic incident stemmed from an argument over cryptocurrency, with the suspect attempting to extort millions from the man via an array of terrifying tortures.
In a statement provided to Gizmodo, the NYPD refused to comment further on the matter. The attorney representing Woeltz was also unavailable for comment. The identity of the unapprehended male still looms as an enigma in this grim tale.
- This harrowing situation highlights the darker side of the tech world, as the alleged kidnapping and torture of an Italian tourist is linked to the crypto scene, raising concerns about the intersection of technology and crime-and-justice.
- While the general-news outlets continue to report on the suspected crypto extortion case, which has taken a dramatic turn with the arrest of John Woeltz and Beatrice Folchi, the identity of the unapprehended male remains a question mark in the unfolding future of this technology-related crime.
- As the Intertwining of technology and politics becomes increasingly prevalent, this case serves as a sobering reminder of the potential dangers associated with high-stakes crypto investments, shedding light on the role of tech in shaping general-news and crime-and-justice narratives.
