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A Manhattan crypto capitalist is facing superior charges aft allegedly kidnapping and torturing an Italian antheral successful a disturbing bid to extract entree to integer assets.
John Woeltz, 37, was arraigned connected Saturday successful Manhattan transgression tribunal pursuing his apprehension connected Friday. He stands accused of holding a 28-year-old Italian antheral captive for weeks wrong a luxury townhouse successful Soho, reportedly rented for $30,000 per month.
According to constabulary reports cited by The New York Times, the unfortunate arrived successful the US connected May 6 and was allegedly abducted by Woeltz and an accomplice.
The attackers are said to person stolen the man’s passport and physics devices earlier demanding the password to his Bitcoin (BTC) wallet. When helium refused, the suspects allegedly subjected him to prolonged carnal abuse.
Source: Mario NawfalRelated: Violent crypto robberies connected the rise: Six attacks that targeted investors
Crypto unfortunate beaten, electroshocked
The unfortunate described being beaten, shocked with electricity, assaulted with a firearm and adjacent dangled from the precocious floors of the five-story building.
He besides told constabulary that Woeltz utilized a saw to chopped his limb and forced him to fume ace cocaine. Threats were besides reportedly made against his family.
Photographic grounds recovered wrong the property, including Polaroids, appears to enactment claims of sustained abuse. The unfortunate managed to flight connected Friday and alert authorities, starring to Woeltz’s arrest.
Woeltz was charged with 4 felony counts, including kidnapping for ransom, and entered a plea of not guilty. Judge Eric Schumacher ordered him to beryllium held without bail. He is expected backmost successful tribunal connected May 28.
A 24-year-old pistillate was besides taken into custody connected Friday successful transportation with the incident. However, she was seen walking freely successful New York the adjacent day, and nary charges against her were recovered successful the court’s online database.
Authorities person yet to clarify the narration betwixt the fishy and the unfortunate oregon whether immoderate cryptocurrency was yet stolen.
Related: Crypto transgression goes concern arsenic gangs motorboat coins, launder billions — UN
Crypto executives crook to bodyguards
Executives and investors successful the crypto manufacture are progressively seeking idiosyncratic information services arsenic kidnapping and ransom cases surge, particularly successful France.
On May 18, Amsterdam-based backstage steadfast Infinite Risks International reported a emergence successful requests for bodyguards and semipermanent extortion contracts from high-profile figures successful the space.
French authorities person responded by introducing enhanced protections for crypto entrepreneurs and their families, including information briefings and precedence entree to constabulary assistance.
This comes amid a caller surge successful kidnappings and ransom attempts. David Balland, the co-founder of hardware wallet institution Ledger, was kidnapped successful January 2025 and held for ransom for respective days earlier being rescued by French police.
In May 2024, the begetter of an unnamed crypto entrepreneur was freed from a ransom attempt aft French instrumentality enforcement officials raided the determination successful a Paris suburb wherever the idiosyncratic was being held hostage by organized criminals.
Magazine: Bitcoiner enactment trap extortion? BTS firm’s blockchain disaster: Asia Express
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