A second suspect has been apprehended in a disturbing case of kidnapping and torture tied to cryptocurrency in Manhattan. William Duplessie, 32, surrendered to authorities following the arrest of his accomplice last week. Both men are accused of holding an Italian tourist captive for weeks, torturing him for access to his Bitcoin.
The victim reported being dangled from a rooftop, subjected to electric shock, and even assaulted with a chainsaw as his tormentors sought his wallet password. After nearly three weeks in captivity, the tourist managed to escape and alert the police. Duplessie and his partner, John Woeltz, are now facing multiple charges, including kidnapping for ransom and assault.
The victim arrived in New York on May 6, only to have his passport confiscated and to endure a series of harrowing threats and abuse. He finally fled the luxury SoHo home where the alleged torture took place, emerging bloodied and barefoot. Authorities have noted that the rise in crypto-related kidnappings reflects a troubling trend of criminals seeking easy access to digital currencies. In separate news from France, authorities have also made arrests linked to similar kidnapping attempts against crypto entrepreneurs.
