In a disturbing case unfolding in New York City, two NYPD officers, including one assigned to Mayor Eric Adams’ personal security detail, have been placed on modified duty after being linked to a shocking kidnapping and torture case involving crypto millionaires. The allegations have sparked widespread attention, revealing a dark intersection of wealth, cryptocurrency, and corruption at the heart of Manhattan.
The Shocking Escape Caught on Camera
The incident came to light after NBC New York obtained exclusive footage showing a man — an Italian tourist — bloodied and shoeless, running for help down a Manhattan street on May 23, 2025, after escaping captivity. The man had been held hostage for 17 days, allegedly tortured in a high-end townhouse in Nolita, a neighborhood known for its luxury real estate and celebrity residents.
At the center of the case are two individuals: John Woeltz and William Duplessie. Both are described as crypto entrepreneurs. Authorities allege they lured the Italian victim to the U.S. on May 6, under false pretenses. Once he arrived, he was picked up at the airport and taken to the Nolita townhouse, where his nightmare began.
Sources familiar with the investigation revealed that one of the NYPD detectives, who serves on Mayor Adams’ security team, had worked off-duty for the two men and may have been the one to transport the victim from the airport. Investigators are now probing whether the officer had any prior knowledge of the kidnapping scheme or played a role in facilitating it.
The Grisly Details of Captivity
According to prosecutors, the victim was subjected to brutal abuse over the course of more than two weeks. He was:
- Electrocuted with wires
- Forced to smoke from a crack pipe
- Threatened with death if he didn’t hand over his Bitcoin password
- At one point, dangled from a staircase five stories high
The ordeal only ended when, on Friday morning, the man finally gave in and handed over his computer password. While his captors left to retrieve the device, he seized the moment to escape barefoot and bleeding into the street, where he was rescued by police.
Disturbing Evidence Found at the Scene
When police searched the luxury rental on Prince Street, they uncovered a chilling collection of items:
- Cocaine
- A saw
- Chicken wire
- Body armor
- Night vision goggles
- Ammunition
- Polaroid photos of the victim with a gun to his head
The evidence paints a terrifying picture of premeditated violence. According to law enforcement, the townhouse — rented for at least $30,000 a month — had been converted into what they called a “high-end frat house”, complete with stripper poles, liquor bottles scattered around, and all-night partying.
Neighbors reportedly heard loud music and commotion at all hours, but had no idea that a man was being tortured inside.
NYPD Officers Under Investigation
The role of the two NYPD officers has come under intense scrutiny. While it’s not yet clear if either officer was directly involved in the kidnapping or torture, both have been removed from active duty pending the outcome of an Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB) investigation.
City Hall issued a statement saying:
“Every city employee is expected to follow the law, including our officers, both on and off duty. We are disturbed by these allegations, and as soon as they came to our attention, the officers were placed on modified duty. The investigation is ongoing.”
The NYPD allows officers to work off-duty security jobs, but it remains unclear whether the detective’s employment by Woeltz and Duplessie had been properly approved by the department.
Who Is John Woeltz?
John Woeltz, 37, is believed to be a high-profile crypto trader from Kentucky, with an estimated net worth of $100 million. He had been staying at the six-story Nolita townhouse, which includes a private elevator and other luxury amenities.
The alleged victim, meanwhile, is thought to be worth around $30 million. The two men reportedly had a complicated history, described by insiders as a mix of “Wolf of Wall Street” excess and toxic fraternity-style behavior.
Sources told NBC New York that Woeltz and Duplessie had previously assaulted the victim, though never as severely as in this latest incident.
John Woeltz was arrested on Friday, May 24, outside the townhouse, wearing only a bathrobe. He has been denied bail following a sealed grand jury indictment, with arraignment scheduled for June 11. He did not appear in court in person during the Thursday hearing.
William Duplessie surrendered earlier in the week and is currently awaiting his own indictment.
Both men face multiple charges, including kidnapping, assault, and unlawful imprisonment.
Crypto’s Dark Side Resurfaces
This case is the latest in a string of disturbing incidents involving cryptocurrency wealth and criminal behavior. As digital assets continue to attract huge fortunes and unregulated deals, law enforcement agencies are struggling to keep up with the new forms of financial crime that often accompany this sector.
The fact that a member of the NYPD’s elite security detail was even tangentially linked to such a brutal case has raised alarms throughout the city’s political and law enforcement circles.
The story of the Italian tourist tortured by crypto millionaires is still developing, but it has already exposed serious concerns about the intersection of wealth, crypto, and law enforcement. With one suspect in jail, another awaiting indictment, and two NYPD officers under investigation, the fallout is far from over.
As the arraignment approaches in June, the case will continue to draw national attention, not only for its shocking violence but also for what it reveals about the dark underbelly of cryptocurrency culture in New York City.
