Alleged Perpetrator Waylaid and Abused Italian Traveler; Charges Filed Against Cryptocurrency Owner
A 37-year-old crypto investor from Kentucky, John Woeltz, landed in hot water this week after NYC authorities busted him for kidnapping and tormenting an Italian tourist. As per reports, the victim, a 28-year-old guy, managed to escape from Woeltz's ritzy Nolita apartment and tipped off a nearby traffic officer about his two-week nightmare in the investor's upscale pad.
The unfortunate victim connected with Woeltz at his costly apartment on May 6th upon his arrival in the city. Soon after, he found himself in a harrowing ordeal, allegedly subjected to heinous torture techniques for weeks, according to several outlets. Some even suggest that the victim could be Woeltz's former business partner.
On Saturday, Woeltz was arraigned and charged with assault, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, and illegal possession of a firearm. He's currently being held without bail, as per CNN's reports.
It's still foggy about the case's finer details. The New York Times has mentioned a 24-year-old woman named Beatrice Folchi who was arrested with Woeltz and faced charges of kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment. However, it appears that Folchi was spotted on the streets of NYC shortly after her arrest, denying any involvement, telling the New York Post, "Everything will be told, but with a lawyer - I can't make any comments right now." Another unidentified man thought to participate in the torture activities remains at large, according to the New York Post.
The tourist's ordeal reportedly unfolded as Woeltz allegedly swiped his passport and cellphone shortly after his arrival. Woeltz and the unapprehended man then allegedly interrogated the victim, demanding his cryptocurrency wallet password. When the victim refused, police say they imprisoned and tortured him through a series of terrifying methods.
Police discovered Polaroids in the apartment showing the victim bound with electrical tape, and in one image, with a gun pointed at his head, the New York Post claims. They also recovered a gun from the apartment. Sources speaking to the Post claim the tourist was subjected to harrowing interrogations, including being bound with an electric cord, Tased while his feet were submerged in water, pistol-whipped, forced to do cocaine, and threatened with having his limbs hacked off with an electric chainsaw. The turmoil seems to have stemmed from a crypto-related dispute, with Woeltz accused of seeking millions from the victim through an array of brutal tortures, according to sources.
When Gizmodo reached out for a comment on Friday, the NYPD only provided the statement, "On Friday, May 23rd, 2025, at approximately 937 hours in the vicinity of Mulberry Street and Prince Street, a 28-year-old victim approached an on-duty traffic agent and alerted him that he was a victim of an assault." Gizmodo also reached out to Woeltz's attorney for comment.
- The horrific incident involving John Woeltz, acrypto investor, has raised concerns about the darker side of the tech world, with Gizmodo reporting details of the case.
- As the future of technology continues to evolve, so does the intertwining of tech and general news, as seen in the unfolding story of John Woeltz's alleged kidnapping and torture.
- In a chilling twist, the alleged torture techniques used on the Italian tourist by Woeltz spotlight the blurred lines between tech and crime-and-justice, a gruesome reminder of the grim realities that may lurk behind the shine of modern technology.
