- A cryptographic investor in Manhattan had an Italian captive in a house in town of $ 30,000 / month.
- The victim was tortured for cryptographic access – praised, shocked, cut with saw, forced drugs.
- A woman was arrested but released later; Its role in crime is not clear.
John Woeltz, a 37 -year -old cryptographic investor from Manhattan, was charge With kidnapping and torturing an Italian on a digital portfolio. He was arrested on Saturday and pleaded not guilty to four crimes, in particular kidnapping for Rançon. The court rejected on bond, ordering him to remain in detention until his next hearing on May 28.
The victim arrived in New York on May 6 and was removed shortly after, according to the police. He was detained in captivity in a townhouse of $ 30,000 per month rented by Woeltz. Inside, the victim endured weeks of violence and abuse while the kidnappers demanded access to his Bitcoin wallet.
When the victim refused to give up his passwords, he would have been beaten, electrically shocked, assaulted with a firearm and hung on the upper floors of the five -story building. The situation worsened when Woeltz would have used a saw to cut her leg and made him smoke crack. The attackers also threatened his family, according to police statements.
The photos support allegations of abuse
Photographs discovered inside the town hall – in particular Polaroids – support the allegations of physical violence from the victim. He finally managed to escape Friday and to alert the police, triggering the arrest of Woeltz later in the day.
A 24 -year -old was also arrested on Friday as part of the case. However, it was seen in public the next day, and the judicial files show no accusation filed against it. The authorities have not yet disclosed its role in the incident or explain the nature of its link with Woeltz or the victim.
The question of whether a cryptocurrency has been taken is not unknown. Investigators still work to determine the financial scope of the crime.
Cryptographic crimes are increasing
This is not the only violent case linked to digital currency this year. Jameson LOPP’s GitHub has already recorded 22 similar attacks – often called “$ 5” incidents – in 2025 alone. Criminals are turning to direct physical violence to access cryptocurrency portfolios, in tactics degrees beyond digital methods.
France recorded two prominent removal incidents in May. On May 4, a group Abed The father of a French cryptocurrency entrepreneur transported him to around 35 miles in Essonne and broke one of his fingers. The attackers filmed the assault and delivered the images to the victim’s son, demanding 5 million euros in cryptocurrency.
Nine days later, on May 13, masked men try To kidnap the daughter and grandson of Pierre Noizat, the CEO of French Crypto Exchange Paymium, while they were walking in Paris. The attack failed after the daughter of Noizat disarmed one of the men and the passers -by intervened. The suspects escaped in a truck later found abandoned nearby.
Violence has drawn the attention of French officials. On May 16, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau encounter With cryptocurrency professionals to combat the growing threat to industry individuals. Discussions have concentrated not only on the protection of assets, but also on physical security for crypto holders and their families.
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