Investigators say the group allegedly lured the man back from Italy to access his cryptocurrency account and then kidnapped and tortured him for weeks.
Two suspects have been arrested and charged in connection with the kidnapping and torture of a cryptocurrency business partner in a SoHo luxury apartment in New York City, according to the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and local media reports.Why It Matters
This case highlights the growing intersection between cryptocurrency wealth and violent crime, as digital assets become increasingly valuable targets for extortion schemes.
The incident occurred in one of Manhattan’s most upscale neighborhoods, raising concerns about how cryptocurrency-related crimes are evolving and the extreme measures perpetrators will employ to access digital wallets worth millions.What To Know
In an email response to Newsweek on Saturday afternoon, a NYPD deputy commissioner public information (DCPI) spokesperson confirmed that on Friday at approximately 9:30 a.m. local time, in the vicinity of Mulberry and Prince streets, a 28-year-old male victim approached an on-duty traffic agent and stated he had been kidnapped and held against his will in a nearby apartment since May 6. The alleged victim further stated he had been routinely assaulted during his captivity.
John Woeltz, 37, was charged with two counts of second-degree assault and one count each of first-degree kidnapping, first-degree unlawful imprisonment, and criminal possession of a firearm, according to DCPI.
