A cryptocurrency investor allegedly went to drastic measures to retrieve passwords and millions of dollars from an Italian businessman.
According to The New York Post, John Woeltz, 37, of Kentucky, was arrested by NYPD officials on Friday (May 23) after allegedly attempting to extort a 28-year-old man in his SoHo home.
Woeltz is alleged to have demanded crypto-related passwords from the victim in an attempt to extort millions of dollars from the man. He also reportedly took multiple Polaroid photos showing his victim being tied with electrical wire, bound to a chair, and with a gun pointed to his head.
Police found the photos scattered throughout the blood-soaked home, along with several tools that were potentially used in the alleged torture — broken glass, night vision goggles, a bulletproof vest and a gun.
The suspect is accused of forcing the man to take cocaine, tasing him while his feet were placed in water, pistol-whipping and threatening to cut his limbs off with an electric chainsaw.
The man was able to escape and run to a police officer, and was rushed to Bellevue Hospital for treatment.
Woeltz is being charged with five counts including second-degree assault and first-degree kidnapping, while a second person, 24-year-old Beatrice Folchi, has also been arrested and charged with first-degree kidnapping and first-degree unlawful imprisonment.
The weeks-long torturing began shortly after the man arrived to New York from Italy and wanted to meet with Woeltz. But upon arriving at the apartment, the man's passport was allegedly taken from him while an Apple Airtag was placed on his neck to prevent an escape. The two reportedly worked together in the past.
Woeltz was being held in the NYPD’s 5th Precinct on Friday while awaiting charges. The NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit searched the premises to make sure there were no other torture victims, NYP sources said.
